In the LORD I Take Refuge
Psalm 11 summary: what it means
Psalm 11 begins with a refusal. The speaker has taken refuge in the LORD, and rejects advice to flee like a bird to the mountains. The advice has reasons behind it. The wicked have their bows drawn and are shooting in the dark at the upright, and the foundations seem to be giving way. Verse 3 puts the fear into one question: if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The answer does not come from the ground but from above. The LORD is in his holy temple and on his throne in heaven, and his eyes examine everyone. He tests the righteous, hates violence, and will rain coals on the wicked. The psalm ends with its reason for staying put: the LORD is righteous, and the upright will see his face.
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Psalm 11: In the LORD I Take Refuge
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-11
Psalm 11 commentary: explained verse by verse
In the LORD, I take refuge.How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
The psalm opens with a settled position, I take refuge in the LORD, and then quotes the advice of others. They say flee as a bird to your mountain. The speaker asks how they can say that, which makes the whole psalm a reply.
Also read 1 Samuel 22:3, Psalm 31:14, Luke 13:31, Psalm 25:2
For, behold, the wicked bend their bows.They set their arrows on the strings,that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
This is the reasoning behind the advice to flee. The wicked have bent their bows and set arrows on the strings, ready to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. The threat is hidden and aimed at people who have done nothing wrong.
Also read Psalm 32:11, Psalm 142:3, Psalm 97:11, Jeremiah 9:3
If the foundations are destroyed,what can the righteous do?
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? It sounds like the voice of the advisers, saying that when everything underneath gives way there is nothing left to do. The psalm does not answer on those terms, and turns in verse 4 to look upward instead.
Also read Psalm 82:5, Daniel 3:15-18, Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 75:3
The LORD is in his holy temple.The LORD is on his throne in heaven.His eyes observe.His eyes examine the children of men.
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
Here the psalm looks up. The LORD is in his holy temple and on his throne in heaven, and his eyes observe and examine people. The answer to shaking foundations is a throne that has not moved.
Also read Exodus 40:34-35, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 2:4, Isaiah 66:1
The LORD examines the righteous,but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
The LORD's examination falls on both groups, but differently. He examines the righteous, while his soul hates the wicked and anyone who loves violence. Being examined is not the same as being rejected.
Also read Proverbs 6:16-19, James 1:12, Psalm 139:23-24, Jeremiah 12:8
On the wicked he will rain blazing coals;fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
The judgment on the wicked is described in images of fire: blazing coals, sulfur and scorching wind. This is the portion of their cup, what they are given to drink. The arrows of verse 2 are answered from heaven.
Also read Luke 17:29, Ezekiel 13:13, Jeremiah 4:11-12, Isaiah 51:22
For the LORD is righteous.He loves righteousness.The upright shall see his face.
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
The psalm ends with its reason for trust. The LORD is righteous and loves righteousness. The upright, the same people shot at in the dark in verse 2, will see his face.
Also read Psalm 99:4, Job 36:7, Psalm 33:5, Psalm 42:5
A prayer from Psalm 11
LORD, I take refuge in you. When voices tell me to flee like a bird to the mountains, and when it seems the foundations are giving way, remind me where you are. You are in your holy temple. You are on your throne in heaven. Your eyes see and examine every person. You are righteous, and you love what is right. I leave those who love violence to your judgement. Keep my heart upright, and let me one day see your face. Amen.
Psalm 11 Bible study questions
- In verse 1, what advice is the speaker given, and how does he answer it?
- Verse 4 places the LORD in two settings; what are they, and what are his eyes doing?
- Verse 3 asks what the righteous can do if the foundations are destroyed; what feels like a foundation in your own life?
- The speaker is urged to flee but says he takes refuge in the LORD; when have you felt the pull to run from trouble?
- Psalm 11:4 places the LORD on his throne in heaven; how does Psalm 103:19 describe the same throne?
Questions about Psalm 11
What does Psalm 11 mean?
It is the reply of someone told to run from danger. The speaker stays, because the LORD is still on his throne in heaven, sees everything, and will judge the wicked.
Who wrote Psalm 11?
The heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician. The psalm itself does not describe the circumstances.
What does Psalm 11:3 mean?
It asks what the righteous can do if the foundations are destroyed. The psalm answers in the next verse by pointing to the LORD on his throne in heaven, who has not been shaken.
What does Psalm 11:1 mean?
It states trust in the LORD as a refuge and rejects advice to flee like a bird to the mountains.
How does the King James Version word Psalm 11:1?
The KJV reads "In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?"
Psalm 11 KJV: the King James Version
In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?1
For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.2
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?3
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.4
The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.5
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.6
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.7
Psalm 11 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָ֫וִ֥ד בַּֽיהוָ֨ה ׀ חָסִ֗יתִי אֵ֭יךְ תֹּאמְר֣וּ לְנַפְשִׁ֑י נודו הַרְכֶ֥ם צִפּֽוֹר׃
2 כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה הָרְשָׁעִ֡ים יִדְרְכ֬וּן קֶ֗שֶׁת כּוֹנְנ֣וּ חִצָּ֣ם עַל־יֶ֑תֶר לִיר֥וֹת בְּמוֹ־אֹ֝֗פֶל לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃
3 כִּ֣י הַ֭שָּׁתוֹת יֵֽהָרֵס֑וּן צַ֝דִּ֗יק מַה־פָּעָֽל׃
4 יְהוָ֤ה ׀ בְּֽהֵ֘יכַ֤ל קָדְשׁ֗וֹ יְהוָה֮ בַּשָּׁמַ֪יִם כִּ֫סְא֥וֹ עֵינָ֥יו יֶחֱז֑וּ עַפְעַפָּ֥יו יִ֝בְחֲנ֗וּ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃
5 יְהוָה֮ צַדִּ֪יק יִ֫בְחָ֥ן וְ֭רָשָׁע וְאֹהֵ֣ב חָמָ֑ס שָֽׂנְאָ֥ה נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
6 יַמְטֵ֥ר עַל־רְשָׁעִ֗ים פַּ֫חִ֥ים אֵ֣שׁ וְ֭גָפְרִית וְר֥וּחַ זִלְעָפ֗וֹת מְנָ֣ת כּוֹסָֽם׃
7 כִּֽי־צַדִּ֣יק יְ֭הוָה צְדָק֣וֹת אָהֵ֑ב יָ֝שָׁ֗ר יֶחֱז֥וּ פָנֵֽימוֹ׃
Psalm 11 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 10 there.
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1 Unto the end. A psalm for David.
2 In the Lord I put my trust: how then do you say to my soul: Get thee away from hence to the mountain like a sparrow?
3 For, lo, the wicked have bent their bow; they have prepared their arrows in the quiver; to shoot in the dark the upright of heart.
4 For they have destroyed the things which thou hast made: but what has the just man done?
5 The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes look on the poor man: his eyelids examine the sons of men.
6 The Lord trieth the just and the wicked: but he that loveth iniquity hateth his own soul.
7 He shall rain snares upon sinners: fire and brimstone and storms of winds shall be the portion of their cup.
8 For the Lord is just, and hath loved justice: his countenance hath beheld righteousness.
Psalm 11 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 10.
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1 In finem. Psalmus David.
2 In Domino confido; quomodo dicitis animæ meæ: Transmigra in montem sicut passer?
3 Quoniam ecce peccatores intenderunt arcum; paraverunt sagittas suas in pharetra, ut sagittent in obscuro rectos corde:
4 quoniam quæ perfecisti destruxerunt; justus autem, quid fecit?
5 Dominus in templo sancto suo; Dominus in cælo sedes ejus. Oculi ejus in pauperem respiciunt; palpebræ ejus interrogant filios hominum.
6 Dominus interrogat justum et impium; qui autem diligit iniquitatem, odit animam suam.
7 Pluet super peccatores laqueos; ignis et sulphur, et spiritus procellarum, pars calicis eorum.
8 Quoniam justus Dominus, et justitias dilexit: æquitatem vidit vultus ejus.
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Psalm 11 at a glance
| Verses | 7 |
| Heading in the text | For the Chief Musician. By David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David and addresses it to the Chief Musician. |
| Type | Trust |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 10 |
Read Psalm 11 when you are facing
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Psalm 11 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 11 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 11 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source