Psalm 91:1-8

1 Wer unter dem Schirm des Höchsten sitzt und unter dem Schatten des Allmächtigen bleibt,

2 der spricht zu dem HERRN: Meine Zuversicht und meine Burg, mein Gott, auf den ich hoffe.

3 Denn er errettet dich vom Strick des Jägers und von der schädlichen Pestilenz.

4 Er wird dich mit seinen Fittichen decken, und deine Zuversicht wird sein unter seinen Flügeln. Seine Wahrheit ist Schirm und Schild,

5 daß du nicht erschrecken müssest vor dem Grauen der Nacht, vor den Pfeilen, die des Tages fliegen,

6 vor der Pestilenz, die im Finstern schleicht, vor der Seuche, die im Mittage verderbt.

7 Ob tausend fallen zu deiner Seite und zehntausend zu deiner Rechten, so wird es doch dich nicht treffen.

8 Ja du wirst mit deinen Augen deine Lust sehen und schauen, wie den Gottlosen vergolten wird.

Psalm 91:1-8 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."