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Psalm 11
Common English Bible
Psalm 11
Common English Bible
Psalm 11
For the music leader. Of David.
11 I have taken refuge in the Lord.
So how can you say to me,[a]
“Flee to the hills like a bird
2 because the wicked
have already bent their bows;
they’ve already strung their arrows;
they are ready to secretly shoot
those whose heart is right”?
3 When the very bottom of things falls out,
what can a righteous person possibly accomplish?
4 But the Lord is in his holy temple.
The Lord! His throne is in heaven.
His eyes see—
his vision examines all of humanity.
5 The Lord examines
both the righteous and the wicked;
his very being[b] hates anyone who loves violence.
6 God will rain fiery coals and sulfur on the wicked;
their cups will be filled
with nothing but a scorching hot wind
7 because the Lord is righteous!
He loves righteous deeds.
Those whose heart is right will see God’s face.[c]
Footnotes
- Psalm 11:1 Or my soul
- Psalm 11:5 Or soul
- Psalm 11:7 Heb lacks heart, but see 11:2 and Pss 7:10; 32:11; 36:10.
Psalm 11
King James Version
Psalm 11
King James Version
11 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
4 The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
Psalm 11
New King James Version
Psalm 11
New King James Version
Faith in the Lord’s Righteousness
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
11 In (A)the Lord I put my trust;
How can you say to my soul,
“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
2 For look! (B)The wicked bend their bow,
They make ready their arrow on the string,
That they may shoot [a]secretly at the upright in heart.
3 (C)If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?
4 The Lord is in His holy temple,
The Lord’s (D)throne is in heaven;
(E)His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The Lord (F)tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
(G)Shall be [b]the portion of their cup.
Footnotes
- Psalm 11:2 Lit. in darkness
- Psalm 11:6 Their allotted portion or serving
- Psalm 11:7 Or The upright beholds His countenance
Psalm 11
New International Version
Psalm 11
New International Version
Psalm 11
For the director of music. Of David.
1 In the Lord I take refuge.(A)
How then can you say to me:
“Flee(B) like a bird to your mountain.(C)
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;(D)
they set their arrows(E) against the strings
to shoot from the shadows(F)
at the upright in heart.(G)
3 When the foundations(H) are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;(I)
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.(J)
He observes everyone on earth;(K)
his eyes examine(L) them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,(M)
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.(N)
6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;(O)
a scorching wind(P) will be their lot.
Psalm 11
English Standard Version
Psalm 11
English Standard Version
The Lord Is in His Holy Temple
To the choirmaster. Of David.
11 In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
(A)Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked (B)bend the bow;
(C)they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if (D)the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?[a]
4 (E)The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's (F)throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids (G)test the children of man.
5 The Lord (H)tests the righteous,
but (I)his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
(J)fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be (K)the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he (L)loves righteous deeds;
(M)the upright shall behold his face.
Footnotes
- Psalm 11:3 Or for the foundations will be destroyed; what has the righteous done?
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.