My Refuge and My Fortress

¹He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

²I will say1 to the Lord, “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 pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

⁵You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷A thousand may fall at your side,

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 the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge2—

¹⁰no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

¹¹For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

¹²On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

¹³You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

¹⁴“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

¹⁵When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.”

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