Psalms 91
Psalm 91 is a declaration of refuge under the Most High, full of shelter, angels, and long life. It is poetry of trust. It is also a psalm the tempter quotes.
In Matthew 4 the tempter sets Jesus on the temple and cites this psalm as a reason to jump. Jesus refuses, with a sentence from Deuteronomy about not testing the Lord. A reading of Psalm 91 that skips Matthew 4 turns a psalm of trust into a dare.
Read in context: this is the chapter. A verse number from another page lands on its line.
The Berean text is the default. The other two wordings are the same verses from the other files.
1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say to the LORD, “ You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague. 4He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart. 5You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the calamity that destroys at noon. 7Though a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, no harm will come near you. 8You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked. 9Because you have made the LORD your dwelling— my refuge, the Most High— 10no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent. 11For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent. 14“Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him. 15When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. 16With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
1He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” 3For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. 4He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. 5You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day; 6nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. 8You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked. 9Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, 10no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. 11For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. 12They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone. 13You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. 14“Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. 15He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him. 16I will satisfy him with long life, and show him my salvation.”
Read with this chapter
Matthew 4:5–7
The psalm on the tempter’s lips, and the answer from Deuteronomy.
5Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. 6“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” 7Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”Psalm 91:11-12 7Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’” Deuteronomy 6:16
See also Luke 4:9 · Matthew 27:53 · Revelation 11:2 · Isaiah 48:2
Luke 4:9–12
Luke’s account of the same refusal. The psalm is quoted again, and the answer is again that the Lord is not to be tested.
9Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here. 10For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You carefully, 11and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” 12But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
9And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
9He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’ 11and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’”Psalm 91:11-12 12Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Deuteronomy 6:16
See also Matthew 8:29 · Luke 4:3 · Romans 1:4 · Job 2:6
Related
Next: John 3:16