Title For the director of music. Of David.

1 In the Lord I take refuge.

How then can you say to me:

“Flee like a bird to your mountain.

2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;

they set their arrows against the strings

to shoot from the shadows

at the upright in heart.

3 When the foundations are being destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord is on his heavenly throne.

He observes everyone on earth;

his eyes examine them.

5 The Lord examines the righteous,

but the wicked, those who love violence,

he hates with a passion.

6 On the wicked he will rain

fiery coals and burning sulfur;

a scorching wind will be their lot.

7 For the Lord is righteous,

he loves justice;

the upright will see his face.

Title To the choirmaster. Of David.

1 In the Lord I take refuge;

how can you say to my soul,

“Flee like a bird to your mountain,

2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;

they have fitted their arrow to the string

to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;

3 if the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord’s throne is in heaven;

his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

5 The Lord tests the righteous,

but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;

fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face.

Title 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.

Title For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I trust in the Lord for protection.

So why do you say to me,

“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!

2 The wicked are stringing their bows

and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.

They shoot from the shadows

at those whose hearts are right.

3 The foundations of law and order have collapsed.

What can the righteous do?”

4 But the Lord is in his holy Temple;

the Lord still rules from heaven.

He watches everyone closely,

examining every person on earth.

5 The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.

He hates those who love violence.

6 He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,

punishing them with scorching winds.

7 For the righteous Lord loves justice.

The virtuous will see his face.

Title To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul,

“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

2 For look! The wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow on the string,

That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are 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 test the sons of men.

5 The Lord tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals;

Fire and brimstone and a burning wind

Shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteousness;

His countenance beholds the upright.

Title For the director of music. Of David.

1 I trust in the Lord for protection.

So why do you say to me,

“Fly like a bird to your mountain.

2 Like hunters, the wicked string their bows;

they set their arrows on the bowstrings.

They shoot from dark places

at those who are honest.

3 When the foundations for good collapse,

what can good people do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord sits on his throne in heaven.

He sees what people do;

he keeps his eye on them.

5 The Lord tests those who do right,

but he hates the wicked and those who love to hurt others.

6 He will send hot coals and burning sulfur on the wicked.

A whirlwind is what they will get.

7 The Lord does what is right, and he loves justice,

so honest people will see his face.

Title For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 In Jehovah do I take refuge:

How say ye to my soul,

Flee as a bird to your mountain;

2 For, lo, the wicked bend the bow,

They make ready their arrow upon the string,

That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart;

3 If the foundations be destroyed,

What can the righteous do?

4 Jehovah is in his holy temple;

Jehovah, his throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

5 Jehovah trieth the righteous;

But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

6 Upon the wicked he will rain snares;

Fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For Jehovah is righteous;

He loveth righteousness:

The upright shall behold his face.

Title To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 In Jehovah have I put my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For behold, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may in darkness shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

4 Jehovah is in the temple of his holiness; Jehovah, —his throne is in the heavens: his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men. 5 Jehovah trieth the righteous one; but the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone; and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For righteous is Jehovah; he loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright.

Title For the choir director; by David. 

1 I have taken refuge in the Lord. 

How can you say to me: 

“Flee to your mountain like a bird? 

2 Wicked people bend their bows. 

They set their arrows against the strings 

to shoot in the dark at people whose motives are decent. 

3 When the foundations ⸤of life⸥ are undermined, 

what can a righteous person do?” 

4 The Lord is in his holy temple. 

The Lord’s throne is in heaven. 

His eyes see. 

They examine Adam’s descendants. 

5 The Lord tests righteous people, 

but he hates wicked people and the ones who love violence. 

6 He rains down fire and burning sulfur upon wicked people. 

He makes them drink from a cup filled with scorching wind. 

7 The Lord is righteous. 

He loves a righteous way of life. 

Decent people will see his face. 

Title For the choir director. Davidic.

1 I have taken refuge in the Lord.

How can you say to me,

“Escape to the mountain like a bird!

2 For look, the wicked string the bow;

they put the arrow on the bowstring

to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

3 When the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in His holy temple;

the Lord’s throne is in heaven.

His eyes watch; He examines everyone.

5 The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked.

He hates the lover of violence.

6 He will rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked;

a scorching wind will be their portion.

7 For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds.

The upright will see His face.

Title To the leader. Of David.

1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,

“Flee like a bird to the mountains;

2 for look, the wicked bend the bow,

they have fitted their arrow to the string,

to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are 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 gaze examines humankind.

5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,

and his soul hates the lover of violence.

6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur;

a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face.

Title For the music director. Of David.

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.

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?

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 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.

Title For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 I run to the Lord for safety.

So how can you say to me,

“Fly away like a bird to your mountain.

2 Look! Evil people are bending their bows.

They are placing their arrows against the strings.

They are planning to shoot from the shadows

at those who have honest hearts.

3 When law and order are being destroyed,

what can godly people do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple.

The Lord is on his throne in heaven.

He watches all people.

His eyes study them.

5 The Lord watches over those who do what is right.

But he hates sinful people and those who love to hurt others.

6 He will pour out flaming coals and burning sulfur

on those who do what is wrong.

A hot and dry wind will destroy them.

7 The Lord always does what is right.

So he loves it when people do what is fair.

Those who are honest will enjoy his blessing.