A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
Key verse: 7
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
Read full chapter
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
First, God is our refuge and strength (1-7). This psalm has some imagery of chaos and trouble: mountains falling, waters roaring, nations in uproar, kingdoms falling (2,3,6). Where is security to be found? In God, our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in trouble. With God, we will not fear. Where God dwells, there are streams of gladness. God upholds his people; we will not fall. He is with us; he is our mighty fortress.
Second, God will be exalted in all the earth (8-11). Come and see what the LORD has done! He brings desolation or makes wars cease. He says, “Be still [everyone], and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us. God is our fortress.
Prayer: LORD God Almighty, you are our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in need. You are our fortress. With you, we will not fear.
One Word: Praise God, our refuge, strength, and ever-present help—our fortress!
