TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 91

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1O you who dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the protection of Shaddai—

איֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן בְּצֵל שַׁדַּי יִתְלוֹנָן׃

2I say of Hashem, my refuge and stronghold, my God in whom I trust,

באֹמַר לַיהֹוָה מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אֱלֹהַי אֶבְטַח־בּוֹ׃

3that He will save you from the fowler's trap, from the destructive plague.

גכִּי הוּא יַצִּילְךָ מִפַּח יָקוּשׁ מִדֶּבֶר הַוּוֹת׃

4He will cover you with His pinions; you will find refuge under His wings; His fidelity is an encircling shield.

דבְּאֶבְרָתוֹ יָסֶךְ לָךְ וְתַחַת־כְּנָפָיו תֶּחְסֶה צִנָּה וְסֹחֵרָה אֲמִתּוֹ׃

5You need not fear the terror by night, or the arrow that flies by day,

הלֹא־תִירָא מִפַּחַד לָיְלָה מֵחֵץ יָעוּף יוֹמָם׃

6the plague that stalks in the darkness, or the scourge that ravages at noon.

ומִדֶּבֶר בָּאֹפֶל יַהֲלֹךְ מִקֶּטֶב יָשׁוּד צָהֳרָיִם׃

7A thousand may fall at your left side, ten thousand at your right, but it shall not reach you.

זיִפֹּל מִצִּדְּךָ אֶלֶף וּרְבָבָה מִימִינֶךָ אֵלֶיךָ לֹא יִגָּשׁ׃

8You will see it with your eyes, you will witness the punishment of the wicked.

חרַק בְּעֵינֶיךָ תַבִּיט וְשִׁלֻּמַת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶה׃

9Because you took Hashem—my refuge, the Most High—as your haven,

טכִּי־אַתָּה יְהֹוָה מַחְסִי עֶלְיוֹן שַׂמְתָּ מְעוֹנֶךָ׃

10no harm will befall you, no disease touch your tent.

ילֹא־תְאֻנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה וְנֶגַע לֹא־יִקְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶךָ׃

11For He will order His angels to guard you wherever you go.

יאכִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ׃

12They will carry you in their hands lest you hurt your foot on a stone.

יבעַל־כַּפַּיִם יִשָּׂאוּנְךָ פֶּן־תִּגֹּף בָּאֶבֶן רַגְלֶךָ׃

13You will tread on cubs and vipers; you will trample lions and asps.

יגעַל־שַׁחַל וָפֶתֶן תִּדְרֹךְ תִּרְמֹס כְּפִיר וְתַנִּין׃

14“Because he is devoted to Me I will deliver him; I will keep him safe, for he knows My name.

ידכִּי בִי חָשַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵהוּ אֲשַׂגְּבֵהוּ כִּי־יָדַע שְׁמִי׃

15When he calls on Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in distress; I will rescue him and make him honored;

yik-ra-AY-nee v'-e-e-NAY-hu i-MO a-no-KHEE v'-tza-RAH a-kha-l'-TZAY-hu va-a-kha-b'-DAY-hu

טויִקְרָאֵנִי וְאֶעֱנֵהוּ עִמּוֹ־אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה אֲחַלְּצֵהוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵהוּ׃

91:15   I will rescue him

Psalm 91 is special, as it includes Hashem’s response at the end. By contrast, most of the other Tehillim are presented in only one direction, with man speaking to, or about, the Lord. Rarely do we find a psalm that includes an expression of God recognizing the faith that man has shown and responding in kind, offering comfort. The psalmist conveys the message that one who puts his hope and trust in Hashem will ultimately see the rewards of His guidance and providence. Verse 15 is therefore seen as one of the most comforting ideas in all of the psalms. The committed servant of God knows that even when he may falter and, as a result, be sent out of the land, Hashem will still hear his call and eventually save him. God is “with him in distress;” He follows his servants into exile, and is ready to bring them home as soon they are ready to call out to Him.

16I will let him live to a ripe old age, and show him My salvation.”

טזאֹרֶךְ יָמִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵהוּ וְאַרְאֵהוּ בִּישׁוּעָתִי׃