5 Thou art not afraid of fear by night, Of arrow that flieth by day,
When thou passest into waters, I `am' with thee, And into floods, they do not overflow thee, When thou goest into fire, thou art not burnt, And a flame doth not burn against thee.
In six distresses He delivereth thee, And in seven evil striketh not on thee. In famine He hath redeemed thee from death, And in battle from the hands of the sword. When the tongue scourgeth thou art hid, And thou art not afraid of destruction, When it cometh. At destruction and at hunger thou mockest, And of the beast of the earth, Thou art not afraid. (For with sons of the field `is' thy covenant, And the beast of the field Hath been at peace with thee.) And thou hast known that thy tent `is' peace, And inspected thy habitation, and errest not, And hast known that numerous `is' Thy seed, And thine offspring as the herb of the earth; Thou comest in full age unto the grave, As the going up of a stalk in its season. Lo, this -- we searched it out -- it `is' right, hearken; And thou, know for thyself!
The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident.
Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble. If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep. Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.
I -- I have lain down, and I sleep, I have waked, for Jehovah sustaineth me. I am not afraid of myriads of people, That round about they have set against me.
Of an evil report he is not afraid, Prepared is His heart, confident in Jehovah.
By David. Jehovah `is' my light and my salvation, Whom do I fear? Jehovah `is' the strength of my life, Of whom am I afraid? When evil doers come near to me to eat my flesh, My adversaries and mine enemies to me, They have stumbled and fallen. Though a host doth encamp against me, My heart doth not fear, Though war riseth up against me, In this I `am' confident.
`And God said to him, Unthinking one! this night thy soul they shall require from thee, and what things thou didst prepare -- to whom shall they be?
Wandered hath my heart, trembling hath terrified me, The twilight of my desire He hath made a fear to me,
And he saith to them, `Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?' Then having risen, he rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm;
He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow. He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.
At the light doth the murderer rise, He doth slay the poor and needy, And in the night he is as a thief. And the eye of an adulterer Hath observed the twilight, Saying, `No eye doth behold me.' And he putteth the face in secret. He hath dug in the darkness -- houses; By day they shut themselves up, They have not known light.
In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear. And a spirit before my face doth pass, Stand up doth the hair of my flesh;
seeing Jehovah hath caused the camp of Aram to hear a noise of chariot and a noise of horse -- a noise of great force, and they say one unto another, `Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Egypt, to come against us.'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 91
Commentary on Psalms 91 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 91
Ps 91:1-16. David is the most probable author; and the pestilence, mentioned in 2Sa 24:13-15, the most probable of any special occasion to which the Psalm may refer. The changes of person allowable in poetry are here frequently made.
1. dwelleth in the secret place—(Ps 27:5; 31:20) denotes nearness to God. Such as do so abide or lodge secure from assaults, and can well use the terms of trust in Ps 91:2.
3. snares … [and] … noisome pestilence—literally, "plagues of mischiefs" (Ps 5:9; 52:7), are expressive figures for various evils.
4. For the first figure compare De 32:11; Mt 23:37.
buckler—literally, "surrounding"—that is, a kind of shield covering all over.
5. terror—or, what causes it (Pr 20:2).
by night—then aggravated.
arrow—that is, of enemies.
7, 8. The security is more valuable, as being special, and, therefore, evidently of God; and while ten thousands of the wicked fall, the righteous are in such safety that they only see the calamity.
9-12. This exemption from evil is the result of trust in God, who employs angels as ministering spirits (Heb 1:14).
13. Even the fiercest, strongest, and most insidious animals may be trampled on with impunity.
14-16. God Himself speaks (compare Ps 46:10; 75:2, 3). All the terms to express safety and peace indicate the most undoubting confidence (compare Ps 18:2; 20:1; 22:5).
set his love—that of the most ardent kind.
16. show him—literally, "make him see" (Ps 50:23; Lu 2:30).