Psalm 11

1 In the Lord I have put my trust: how will ye say to my soul, Flee to the mountains as a sparrow?

2 For behold the sinners have bent their bow, they have prepared their arrows for the quiver, to shoot privily at the upright in heart.

3 For they have pulled down what thou didst frame, but what has the righteous done?

4 The Lord is in his holy temple, as for the Lord, his throne is in heaven: his eyes look upon the poor, his eyelids try the sons of men.

5 The Lord tries the righteous and the ungodly: and he that loves unrighteousness hates his own soul.

6 He shall rain upon sinners snares, fire, and brimstone, and a stormy blast shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous, and loves righteousness; his face beholds uprightness.

Psalm 11 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, a Psalm of David. The word "sheminith" is used in the title of Psalm 6:1, and signifies "eighth"; and intends either the eighth note, to which the psalm was sung, or rather the harp of eight chords, to which it was set, as the Targum and Jarchi interpret it. Some Jewish writers {y} understand it of the times of the Messiah; and the Syriac version entitles the psalm, "an accusation of the wicked, and a prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah:" and the Arabic version says, it is concerning the end of the world, which shall be in the eighth day; and concerning the coming of the Messiah: but Arnobius interprets it of the Lord's day.

{y} Sepher Lekach Shechachah apud Caphtor, fol. 64. 1. & Ceseph Misnah in Maimon. Hilch. Teshuvah, c. 9.