Psalm 91:10-16

10 Es wird dir kein Übel begegnen, und keine Plage wird zu deiner Hütte sich nahen.

11 Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen über dir, daß sie dich behüten auf allen deinen Wegen,

12 daß sie dich auf Händen tragen und du deinen Fuß nicht an einen Stein stoßest.

13 Auf Löwen und Ottern wirst du gehen, und treten auf junge Löwen und Drachen.

14 "Er begehrt mein, so will ich ihm aushelfen; er kennt meinen Namen, darum will ich ihn schützen.

15 Er ruft mich an, so will ich ihn erhören; ich bin bei ihm in der Not; ich will ihn herausreißen und zu Ehren bringen.

16 Ich will ihn sättigen mit langem Leben und will ihm zeigen mein Heil."

Psalm 91:10-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 91

Jarchi and others think this psalm was written by Moses {m}, as was the preceding; but the Targum ascribes it to David; as do the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions; and very probably, as is generally thought, was penned by him on occasion of the pestilence which came upon the people, through his numbering of them, 2Sa 24:1. The person all along spoken of, and to, according to the Targum, is Solomon his son; and, according to the title in the Syriac version, King Hezekiah, so Theodoret, who is called the son of David; neither of which are probable. Some think the Messiah is meant; and that the psalm contains promises of protection and safety to him, as man, from diseases, beasts of prey, evil spirits, and wicked men, under the care of angels; and this not because that Satan has applied one of these promises to him, Mt 4:6, but because they seem better to agree with him than with any other: and one part of the title of the psalm, in the Syriac version, runs thus,

``and spiritually it is called the victory of the Messiah, and of everyone that is perfected by him.''

It seems best to understand it of every godly man, who is always safe under the divine protection. The Talmudisis {n} call it Myegp ryv, "a song of the occursions", or "meetings with evil spirits."