Psalms 11

Confidence in Yahweh’s Righteousness

For the music director. Of David.*The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm

1 In Yahweh I have taken refuge;

how can you say to my soul,

"Flee to your mountain like a bird"?

2 For look: The wicked string the bow.*Literally "tread the bow," that is, placing the foot on the bow to bend and string it

They have fitted their arrow to the string,

to shoot from the darkness

at the upright of heart.

3 When the foundations are destroyed

what can the righteous do?*Or "what has the righteous done"

4 Yahweh is in his holy temple;

Yahweh is in the heavens on his throne.

His eyelids see;

they test the children of humankind.

5 Yahweh tests the righteous,

but the wicked and the lover of violence

his soul hates.

6 He will rain coals*According to Symmachus (compare also Targum Psalms) a form slightly different from the MT’s "snares" on the wicked.

Burning sulfur and scorching wind

will be the portion of their cup.

7 For Yahweh is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds.

The upright shall see his face.