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Psalms 11

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1David encourageth himself in God against his enemies. [4]The providence and justice of God.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

2. 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.

3. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

4. The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

5. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

7. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

Metrical version

Psalm 11

C.M. St. Magnus

I in the LORD do put my trust:
how is it then that ye
Say to my soul, Flee, as a bird,
unto your mountain high?

For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,
their shafts on string they fit,
That those who upright are in heart
they privily may hit.

If the foundations be destroyed,
what hath the righteous done?
GOD in his holy temple is,
in heaven is his throne:

His eyes do see, his eyelids try
men's sons. The just he proves:
But his soul hates the wicked man,
and him that vi'lence loves.

Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms,
on sinners he shall rain:
This, as the portion of their cup,
doth unto them pertain.

Because the LORD most righteous doth
in righteousness delight;
And with a pleasant countenance
beholdeth the upright.
Behold here, (1.) David, tempted by his timorous friends to escape to some mountain, and hide himself from the fury of Saul, or of Absalom, as if that were his only safe course now when his enemies were exerting themselves to the uttermost, and all things were in disorder and confusion, ver. 1-3. (2.) David baffling the temptation by a resolute profession of his trust in God, as the observer of all men; as the holy and righteous punisher of the wicked, and friend of the godly, ver. 4-7.


Let no temptation decoy me from my duty. Let no danger deter me from it. While Jehovah, my reconciled God and Father, manageth and judgeth the world, my safest course is to commit myself to him in well-doing. Let the just vengeance of God upon sinners deter my heart from sinning, and his kindness to his people encourage me to holiness in all manner of conversation.