Yoshév b’setér Elyón/“Seated in the secret [place] of the Highest,” (Latin Qui habitat) is our 91st psalm. It’s often called the Psalm of Protection, ’cause it talks about how the L
Who’s the “you”? Actually that’d be the king. This is a messianic psalm, addressed to (and possibly written by) Israel’s king. This fact isn’t obvious; the psalm never bluntly says it. Hence loads of Christians figure they’re the “you,” apply it to themselves, and take a lot of comfort in the idea God’ll deliver us from our every foe.
Problem is, God never promised us any such thing. On the contrary: Jesus promised us we’d suffer.
Yeah, my translation rhymes. Went with trochaic octameter.
Psalm 91 KWL - 1 Seated in the Highest’s secret, seated in Almighty’s shadow,
- 2 tell the L
ORD , “You are my refuge and my fortress—God, I trust you.” - 3 For he frees you from the fowler’s traps, from pestilence, destruction.
- 4 With his pinions you he covers. Under wing you find protection.
- His truth is your shield and buckler 5 from the arrow’s daily flight.
- His truth is your strong defense, so do not fear the dread of night.
- 6 Pestilence which walks in darkness, ruin at noon devastates—
- 7 thousands at your side and right may fall—but round you, it abates.
- 8 Only with your eyes you look, and see the wicked get their due.
- 9 The L
ORD God’s your refuge, and the Most High is a home to you. - 10 Evil gets cut off from you. Inside your tent, plague is expelled.
- 11 For his angels, God commands to watch you, all your ways surveilled.
- 12 Lest you strike your foot on rocks, by hand they lift you in protection.
- 13 Step on lion, cobra; trample cub—and dragon!—his discretion.
- 14 “Since they love me, know my name, I rescue them and grant them safety.
- 15 They call; they I answer. I’m with them in all their difficulty.
- I deliver them, and honor them, 16 and fill with days sufficient.
- I will show them my salvation,” says with grace the L
ORD omniscient.