Psalm 11: Translation and Notes

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Psalm 11
1 To the chief musician, [a Psalm] of David. In Jehovah have I trusted: how say ye to my soul, Flee to your mountain [as] a bird?
2 For, lo, the wicked bend the bow; they have fixed their arrows upon the string to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3 For the foundations are broken down. What hath the righteous [man] done?
4 Jehovah [is] in the temple of his holiness; Jehovah, his throne [is] in the heavens; his eyes behold, his eyelids prove, the sons of men.
5 Jehovah proveth the righteous [man]; and the wicked [man] and him who loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 He will rain upon the wicked snares, fire and brimstone and a burning tempest—the portion of their cup.
7 For righteous [is] Jehovah; he loveth righteousness; his face beholdeth the upright.
Notes on Psalm 11
The psalms that follow to the fifteenth give the experience proper to such a crisis Gentile and Jewish, and have the form of results.
The first of them is inscribed “To the chief musician: of or by David,” and expresses the resolve not to flee. To the righteous it was a question of absolute trust in Jehovah whatever the ungodly might do or say. If every resource failed, it was but the moment for Him to act for Himself and His own, as He surely will.
There is no wavering. Not only Jehovah abides immutably, but faith cleaves to His house; and whatever come of His representative on earth, His throne is in heaven; and He governs on earth in the face of appearances, though His public Kingdom be not yet come. Hence in due time is condign punishment for the wicked, while the saint knows all the while that He is righteous, loves righteousness, and regards the upright.