Psalms 91:1-10

1 The person who rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One.

2 I will say about the Lord, "He is my place of safety. He is like a fort to me. He is my God. I trust in him."

3 He will certainly save you from hidden traps and from deadly sickness.

4 He will cover you with his wings. Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety. He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower.

5 You won't have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night. You won't have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day.

6 You won't have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness. You won't have to fear the plague that destroys at noon.

7 A thousand may fall dead at your side. Ten thousand may fall near your right hand. But no harm will come to you.

8 You will see with your own eyes how God punishes sinful people.

9 The LORD is the one who keeps you safe. So let the Most High God be like a home to you.

10 Then no harm will come to you. No terrible plague will come near your tent.

Psalms 91:1-10 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."