GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH
Key verse: 1
NIV
Psalm 46[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
1 God is our refuge(A) and strength,(B)
an ever-present(C) help(D) in trouble.(E)
2 Therefore we will not fear,(F) though the earth give way(G)
and the mountains fall(H) into the heart of the sea,(I)
3 though its waters roar(J) and foam(K)
and the mountains quake(L) with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river(M) whose streams(N) make glad the city of God,(O)
the holy place where the Most High(P) dwells.(Q)
5 God is within her,(R) she will not fall;(S)
God will help(T) her at break of day.
6 Nations(U) are in uproar,(V) kingdoms(W) fall;
he lifts his voice,(X) the earth melts.(Y)
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,(AD)
the desolations(AE) he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars(AF) cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(AG) and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.(AH)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(AI)
I will be exalted(AJ) among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
- Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
- Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
Cross references
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps 9:9; 37:39; 61:3; 73:26; 91:2, 9; 142:5; Isa 33:16; Jer 16:19; 17:17; Joel 3:16; Na 1:7
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps 18:1
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps 34:18; La 3:57
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps 18:6; Lk 1:54
- Psalm 46:1 : S Dt 4:30; Ps 25:17
- Psalm 46:2 : S Ge 4:7; Ps 3:6
- Psalm 46:2 : Ps 82:5; Isa 13:13; 24:1, 19, 20; Jer 4:23; Da 11:19; Am 8:14; S Rev 6:14
- Psalm 46:2 : ver 6; Ps 18:7; 97:5; Isa 54:10; Am 9:5; Mic 1:4; Na 1:5; Hab 3:6
- Psalm 46:2 : Ex 15:8
- Psalm 46:3 : Ps 93:3; Isa 17:13; Jer 5:22; Eze 1:24; Rev 19:6
- Psalm 46:3 : S Job 9:26
- Psalm 46:3 : S Jdg 5:5
- Psalm 46:4 : S Ge 2:10; Rev 22:1
- Psalm 46:4 : S Ps 1:3
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps 48:1, 8; 87:3; 101:8; Rev 3:12
- Psalm 46:4 : Ge 14:18
- Psalm 46:4 : S 2Sa 15:25
- Psalm 46:5 : Dt 23:14; S Ps 26:8; Isa 12:6; Zec 2:5
- Psalm 46:5 : Ps 125:1
- Psalm 46:5 : S 1Ch 5:20
- Psalm 46:6 : S Job 12:23
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps 74:23; Isa 5:30; 17:12
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps 68:32; 102:22; Isa 13:4, 13; 23:11; Eze 26:18; Mt 4:8
- Psalm 46:6 : S Ps 29:3; Isa 33:3
- Psalm 46:6 : S ver 2
- Psalm 46:7 : S 1Sa 1:11
- Psalm 46:7 : S Ge 21:22
- Psalm 46:7 : S Ps 20:1
- Psalm 46:7 : ver 11; Ps 18:2
- Psalm 46:8 : Ps 66:5
- Psalm 46:8 : Isa 17:9; 64:10; Da 9:26; Lk 21:20
- Psalm 46:9 : Isa 2:4
- Psalm 46:9 : S Ps 37:15; S Isa 22:6
- Psalm 46:9 : Isa 9:5; Eze 39:9; Hos 2:18
- Psalm 46:10 : Dt 4:35; 1Ki 18:36, 39; Ps 100:3; Isa 37:16, 20; 43:11; 45:21; Eze 36:23
- Psalm 46:10 : Ps 18:46; Isa 2:11
- Psalm 46:11 : S Ps 20:1
- Psalm 46:11 : S ver 7
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of (A)the Sons of Korah. According to (B)Alamoth.[a] A Song.46 God is our (C)refuge and strength,
a very (D)present[b] help in (E)trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear (F)though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into (G)the heart of the sea,
3 though (H)its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is (I)a river whose streams make glad (J)the city of God,
the holy (K)habitation of the Most High.
5 (L)God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 (M)The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he (N)utters his voice, the earth (O)melts.
7 (P)The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 (Q)Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 (R)He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he (S)breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
(T)he burns the chariots with fire.
10 (U)“Be still, and know that I am God.
(V)I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 (W)The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
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Footnotes
- Psalm 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 46:1 Or well proved
Cross references
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 42, title
- Psalm 46:1 : 1 Chr. 15:20
- Psalm 46:1 : See Ps. 14:6
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 145:18; Deut. 4:7
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 9:9
- Psalm 46:2 : [Ps. 18:7]
- Psalm 46:2 : Ezek. 27:26
- Psalm 46:3 : [Ps. 93:3, 4; Jer. 5:22]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 36:8; 65:9; [Isa. 8:6; 33:21; Rev. 22:1, 2]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 48:1; 87:3; [Isa. 60:14]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 43:3; 84:1
- Psalm 46:5 : Lev. 26:12; Deut. 23:14; Isa. 12:6; Ezek. 43:7, 9; Hos. 11:9; Joel 2:27; Zeph. 3:15; Zech. 2:5, 10, 11; 8:3
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps. 2:1
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps. 18:13; 68:33; 76:8; Jer. 25:30; Joel 2:11; 3:16; Amos 1:2
- Psalm 46:6 : Ex. 15:15; Josh. 2:9, 24; Amos 9:5
- Psalm 46:7 : ver. 11; 2 Chr. 13:12; 20:17; [Num. 14:9]
- Psalm 46:8 : Ps. 66:5
- Psalm 46:9 : Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3
- Psalm 46:9 : Ps. 76:3; 1 Sam. 2:4
- Psalm 46:9 : Ezek. 39:9
- Psalm 46:10 : [Ex. 14:13]
- Psalm 46:10 : Isa. 2:11, 17; 33:10
- Psalm 46:11 : [See ver. 7 above]; ver. 11; 2 Chr. 13:12; 20:17; [Num. 14:9]
46 God is our (C)refuge and strength,
a very (D)present[b] help in (E)trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear (F)though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into (G)the heart of the sea,
3 though (H)its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is (I)a river whose streams make glad (J)the city of God,
the holy (K)habitation of the Most High.
5 (L)God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 (M)The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he (N)utters his voice, the earth (O)melts.
7 (P)The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 (Q)Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 (R)He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he (S)breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
(T)he burns the chariots with fire.
10 (U)“Be still, and know that I am God.
(V)I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 (W)The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Footnotes
- Psalm 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 46:1 Or well proved
Cross references
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 42, title
- Psalm 46:1 : 1 Chr. 15:20
- Psalm 46:1 : See Ps. 14:6
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 145:18; Deut. 4:7
- Psalm 46:1 : Ps. 9:9
- Psalm 46:2 : [Ps. 18:7]
- Psalm 46:2 : Ezek. 27:26
- Psalm 46:3 : [Ps. 93:3, 4; Jer. 5:22]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 36:8; 65:9; [Isa. 8:6; 33:21; Rev. 22:1, 2]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 48:1; 87:3; [Isa. 60:14]
- Psalm 46:4 : Ps. 43:3; 84:1
- Psalm 46:5 : Lev. 26:12; Deut. 23:14; Isa. 12:6; Ezek. 43:7, 9; Hos. 11:9; Joel 2:27; Zeph. 3:15; Zech. 2:5, 10, 11; 8:3
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps. 2:1
- Psalm 46:6 : Ps. 18:13; 68:33; 76:8; Jer. 25:30; Joel 2:11; 3:16; Amos 1:2
- Psalm 46:6 : Ex. 15:15; Josh. 2:9, 24; Amos 9:5
- Psalm 46:7 : ver. 11; 2 Chr. 13:12; 20:17; [Num. 14:9]
- Psalm 46:8 : Ps. 66:5
- Psalm 46:9 : Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3
- Psalm 46:9 : Ps. 76:3; 1 Sam. 2:4
- Psalm 46:9 : Ezek. 39:9
- Psalm 46:10 : [Ex. 14:13]
- Psalm 46:10 : Isa. 2:11, 17; 33:10
- Psalm 46:11 : [See ver. 7 above]; ver. 11; 2 Chr. 13:12; 20:17; [Num. 14:9]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. God is an ever-present help (1-7)
Fear is the devil's most effective weapon. He uses it to make men his prisoners. But we do not need to fear, for God is our refuge and strength; he is ever-present. No matter how big the problem, it is not too big for God. Neither natural disasters nor wars nor inner anxieties can terrify us when we trust in God. When his kingdom is in our hearts, streams of living water flow from his throne to revive our souls.
2. Come and see the works of the Lord (8-9)
God is in control of events. He brings desolation on the earth to humble us and make us turn to him; he makes wars cease; he brings peace to troubled hearts.
3. Be still and know that I am God (1
-11)
The Almighty God invites us to stop our busy-minded rushing around and be still. He wants all people of all nations to know that he is God and worship him--then there will be peace on earth.
Prayer: Lord, help me to wait quietly before you until I can see your hand at work.
One Word: Be still and know God
