Psalm 46

A psalm of trust from the sons of Korah, for when the earth gives way and the waters roar. St Athanasius of Alexandria advised it for thanking God after trouble.

Picture: Joseph Anton Koch and Gottlieb Schick, Landscape with Noah’s Thank-Offering, 1803

Plain English

God is our refuge and strength,a help always near in times of trouble.

So we will not fear, though the earth gives way,though the mountains slide into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foamand the mountains shake as it surges.

There is a river whose streams bring joy to the city of God,the holy place where the Most High dwells.God is within the city; it will not fall.God will help it at the break of day.

The nations rage, and kingdoms totter;He raises His voice, and the earth melts.The LORD of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see the works of the LORD,the ruins He has made on the earth:He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;He burns the chariots with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God.I will be exalted among the nations;I will be exalted in the earth.”

The LORD of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Traditional wording, 1611

God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:He uttered His voice, the earth melted.The LORD of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Come, behold the works of the LORD,what desolations He hath made in the earth.He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;He burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God:I will be exalted among the heathen,I will be exalted in the earth.

The LORD of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Plain English by Wiser Walk, from the Hebrew, with the King James Version beside it. How the wording is made. Traditional wording: The King James translators, The King James Version, 1611.

When it is said

In his letter on the Psalms, St Athanasius commends it to anyone who has fled to God and been saved from the troubles around them, and who wants to thank God and tell of His love.

Anyone may pray it while the ground still shakes or the water still rises.

Where it comes from

Author by tradition

A song of the sons of Korah

The Hebrew heading gives this psalm to the sons of Korah as a song. Because the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate number the psalms a little differently, it is Psalm 45 in those Bibles.

The Hebrew text on Mechon Mamre; Wikipedia, Psalm 46

Luther’s psalm

Martin Luther took this psalm as the starting point for his hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”, which is why it is also known as “Luther’s Psalm”. The preacher Charles Spurgeon knew it as a “song of holy confidence”.

Wikipedia, Psalm 46

What the words mean

Ruins or wonders?

Near its end comes the line “Come and see the works of the LORD, the ruins He has made on the earth.” In the very next line He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth, breaking the bow, snapping the spear and burning the chariots. Where the King James Version follows the Hebrew with “desolations”, the Greek Septuagint has “wonders”.

The King James Version; Brenton’s English of the Septuagint, Psalm 45

The Scripture in it

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas, though their waters roar and foam and the mountains quake in the surge. Selah There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns. Nations rage, kingdoms crumble; the earth melts when He lifts His voice. The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Come, see the works of the LORD, Who brings devastation upon the earth. He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire. “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.” The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalm 46:1-11 Quoted The whole psalm.

Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.

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