Psalms 91 (NET)

Psalm 911

1 As for you, the one who lives2 in the shelter of the sovereign One,3

and resides in the protective shadow4 of the mighty king5 –

2 I say this about the Lord, my shelter and my stronghold,

my God in whom I trust –

3 he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter6

and from the destructive plague.

4 He will shelter you7 with his wings;8

you will find safety under his wings.

His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.9

5 You need not fear the terrors of the night,10

the arrow that flies by day,

6 the plague that comes in the darkness,

or the disease that comes at noon.11

7 Though a thousand may fall beside you,

and a multitude on your right side,

it12 will not reach you.

8 Certainly you will see it with your very own eyes –

you will see the wicked paid back.13

9 For you have taken refuge in the Lord,

my shelter, the sovereign One.14

10 No harm will overtake15 you;

no illness16 will come near your home.17

11 For he will order his angels18

to protect you in all you do.19

12 They will lift you up in their hands,

so you will not slip and fall on a stone.20

13 You will subdue21 a lion and a snake;22

you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent.

14 The Lord says,23

“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;

I will protect him24 because he is loyal to me.25

15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him.

I will be with him when he is in trouble;

I will rescue him and bring him honor.

16 I will satisfy him with long life,26

and will let him see my salvation.

1sn Psalm 91. In this psalm an individual (perhaps a priest) addresses one who has sought shelter in the Lord and assures him that God will protect him from danger (vv. 1-13). In vv. 14-16 God himself promises to keep his loyal follower safe. 2tn Heb “[O] one who lives.” 3tn Traditionally “the Most High.” 4sn The Lord is compared here to a bird who protects its young under the shadow of its wings (see v. 4). 5sn The divine name used here is “Shaddai” (שַׁדַּי, shadday; see also Ps 68:14). Shaddai (or El Shaddai) is the mighty king (sovereign judge) of the world who grants life/blesses and kills/judges. In Genesis he blesses the patriarchs with fertility and promises numerous descendants. Outside Genesis he both blesses/protects and takes away life/happiness. 6tn The word refers specifically to a fowler (or hunter of birds). 7tn Heb “put a cover over you” (see Ps 5:11). 8tc The Hebrew text has the singular, but the plural should be read. The final yod (י) of the suffix, which indicates the plural, has dropped off by haplography (note the yod [י] at the beginning of the next word). 9tn Traditionally the Hebrew term סֹחֵרָה (sokherah), which occurs only here in the OT, has been understood to refer to a buckler or small shield (see BDB 695 s.v.). But HALOT 750 s.v., on the basis of evidence from the cognate languages, proposes the meaning “wall.” 10tn This probably alludes to a sneak attack by enemies in the darkness of night (see Song 3:8). 11sn As in Deut 32:23-24, vv. 5-6 closely associate military attack and deadly disease. Perhaps the latter alludes to one of the effects of siege warfare on the population of an entrapped city, which was especially vulnerable to the outbreak of epidemics. 12tn Apparently the deadly disease mentioned in v. 6b is the understood subject here. 13tn Heb “retribution on the wicked.” 14tn Heb “for you, the Lord, my shelter, the Most High, you have made your dwelling place.” 15tn Or “confront.” 16tn For this sense of the Hebrew term נגע see Ps 38:11. 17tn Heb “your tent.” 18tn Heb “for his angels he will command concerning you.” 19tn Heb “in all your ways.” 20tn Heb “so your foot will not strike a stone.” 21tn Heb “walk upon.” 22tn Or perhaps “cobra” (see Ps 58:4). 23tn The words “the Lord says” are supplied in the translation to clarify that the words which follow are the Lord’s oracle of assurance. 24tn Or “make him secure” (Heb “set him on high”). 25tn Heb “because he knows my name” (see Ps 9:10). 26tn Heb “length of days.”