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the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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New Living Translation

Psalms 46:1

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Assurance;   Church;   Faith;   Music;   Scofield Reference Index - Alamoth;   Thompson Chain Reference - Battle of Life;   Protector, Divine;   Refuge, Divine;   Strength;   Weakness-Power;   The Topic Concordance - Fear;   God;   Help;   Refuge;   Strength;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assurance;   Privileges of Saints;   Protection;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Alamoth;   Psalms, the Book of;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Faith;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Power;   Sexuality, Human;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Heart;   Omnipresence of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Palestine;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Alamoth;   Caterpillar;   Jerusalem;   Psalms, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Alamoth;   English Versions;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Korah, Korahites;   Psalms;   Sin;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - God;   Korah;   Psalms the book of;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Al'amoth;   Psalms, Book of,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Refuge;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bible, the;   Help;   Hezekiah (2);   Music;   Psalms, Book of;   Refuge;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - God;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for November 23;   Every Day Light - Devotion for May 18;   Faith's Checkbook - Devotion for December 22;  

Parallel Translations

English Revised Version
For the Chief Musician: a Psalm of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Update Bible Version
For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
New Century Version

For the director of music. By alamoth. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble.
New English Translation

For the music director; by the Korahites; according to the alamoth style; a song.

God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble.
Webster's Bible Translation
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
World English Bible
<> God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Amplified Bible
God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble.
English Standard Version

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The title of the five and fourtithe salm. To the ouercomere, the song of the sones `of Chore, `for yongthis. Oure God, thou art refuyt, and vertu; helpere in tribulacions, that han founde vs greetly.
Berean Standard Bible
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Contemporary English Version

(A special song for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble.
American Standard Version

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A Song.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Bible in Basic English
God is our harbour and our strength, a very present help in trouble.
Complete Jewish Bible
For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. On ‘alamot [high-pitched musical instruments?]. A song:
Darby Translation

To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. On Alamoth. A song.

God is our refuge and strength, a help in distresses, very readily found.
Easy-to-Read Version

To the director: A song from the Korah family. Use the alamoth. A song.

God is our protection and source of strength. He is always ready to help us in times of trouble.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For the Leader; [a Psalm] of the sons of Korah; upon Alamoth. A Song.
King James Version (1611)
[To the chiefe Musician for the sonnes of Korah, a song vpon Alamoth.] God is our refuge and strength: a very present helpe in trouble.
New Life Bible
God is our safe place and our strength. He is always our help when we are in trouble.
New Revised Standard

To the leader. Of the Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Geneva Bible (1587)
To him that excelleth vpon Alamoth a song committed to the sonnes of Korah. God is our hope and strength, and helpe in troubles, ready to be found.
George Lamsa Translation
GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Good News Translation
God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
God - for us, is a refuge and strength, A help in distresses, soon found.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(45-1) <Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden.> (45-2) Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.
Revised Standard Version
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The Lorde is our refuge & strength: a helpe very easyly founde in troubles.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
God is our refuge and strength, a help in the afflictions that have come heavily upon us.
Christian Standard Bible®
God is our refuge and strength,a helper who is always foundin times of trouble.
Hebrew Names Version
<> God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
King James Version
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Lexham English Bible

For the music director. Of the sons of Korah.

According to Alamoth. A song.

God is our refuge and strength, a very sufficient help in troubles.
Literal Translation
To the chief musician. For the sons of Korah; A song. For the Virgins. God is our refuge and strength, very much found to be a help in distresses.
Young's Literal Translation
To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. `For the Virgins.' -- A song. God [is] to us a refuge and strength, A help in adversities found most surely.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
In oure troubles and aduersite, we haue founde, that God is oure refuge, oure strength and helpe.
THE MESSAGE
A Song of the Sons of Korah God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God -of-Angel-Armies protects us.
New American Standard Bible
God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble.
New King James Version
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
New American Standard Bible (1995)

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Legacy Standard Bible
God is our refuge and strength,A very present help in trouble.

Contextual Overview

1

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude 4 A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. 5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

A song: Psalms 48:1, Psalms 66:1, *titles

Alamoth: 1 Chronicles 15:20

refuge: Psalms 46:7, Psalms 46:11, Psalms 62:7, Psalms 62:8, Psalms 91:1-9, Psalms 142:5, Proverbs 14:26, Proverbs 18:10, Luke 13:34, Hebrews 6:18

a very: Psalms 145:18, Genesis 22:14, Deuteronomy 4:7, 2 Samuel 22:17-20

Reciprocal: Genesis 26:24 - fear Genesis 31:3 - Return Genesis 35:1 - God said Genesis 35:3 - who answered Exodus 2:5 - when she Exodus 14:13 - Fear ye not Exodus 18:4 - Eliezer Leviticus 26:5 - dwell Numbers 14:9 - the Lord Numbers 26:11 - General Deuteronomy 1:21 - fear not Deuteronomy 7:18 - shalt not Deuteronomy 33:27 - refuge Joshua 10:42 - because 1 Samuel 11:11 - on the morrow 1 Samuel 23:17 - shall not 2 Samuel 21:17 - succoured 2 Samuel 22:3 - my refuge 2 Samuel 22:33 - strength 2 Kings 18:5 - trusted 1 Chronicles 5:20 - And they 2 Chronicles 18:31 - the Lord Job 11:15 - thou shalt be Psalms 9:9 - The Lord Psalms 10:1 - standest Psalms 18:18 - but Psalms 20:1 - hear Psalms 23:4 - I will Psalms 27:1 - of whom Psalms 27:5 - For in Psalms 28:7 - strength Psalms 37:39 - strength Psalms 42:1 - the sons Psalms 47:1 - for Psalms 49:1 - for Psalms 49:5 - Wherefore Psalms 56:4 - in God I have Psalms 59:9 - his strength Psalms 59:17 - O my Psalms 81:1 - make Psalms 91:2 - I will Psalms 118:6 - The Lord Psalms 119:151 - near Psalms 121:2 - My help Proverbs 3:25 - Be Isaiah 8:10 - counsel Isaiah 8:14 - he shall be Isaiah 17:12 - make a noise Isaiah 26:4 - in the Isaiah 28:6 - and for strength Isaiah 33:2 - our salvation Isaiah 37:22 - hath despised Isaiah 41:10 - Fear Isaiah 46:13 - shall not tarry Jeremiah 14:8 - in time Jeremiah 16:19 - my strength Jeremiah 29:14 - I will be Hosea 13:9 - but Joel 3:16 - hope Habakkuk 3:18 - I will rejoice Habakkuk 3:19 - my strength Zechariah 9:8 - I will Zechariah 12:5 - The inhabitants Matthew 24:6 - see Mark 4:40 - Why Mark 13:7 - when Luke 6:48 - for Luke 21:9 - when John 4:47 - that he Acts 23:11 - the Lord Romans 8:28 - we know Romans 8:31 - If

Cross-References

Genesis 4:4
Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
Genesis 8:20
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord , and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose.
Genesis 12:8
After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord , and he worshiped the Lord .
Genesis 21:14
So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar's shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.
Genesis 21:31
Then he named the place Beersheba (which means "well of the oath"), because that was where they had sworn the oath.
Genesis 21:33
Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord , the Eternal God.
Genesis 22:13
Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
Genesis 28:10
Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran.
Genesis 28:13
At the top of the stairway stood the Lord , and he said, "I am the Lord , the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants.
Genesis 31:42
In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

God [is] our refuge and strength,.... That is, Christ, who is God as well as man, is the "refuge" for souls to fly unto for safety; as for sensible sinners, in a view of danger, wrath, and misery, so for saints, in every time of distress; typified by the cities of refuge, under the legal dispensation; :-; and he it is from whom they have all their spiritual strength, and every renewal and supply of it, to exercise grace, perform duties, withstand enemies, bear the cross patiently, show a fortitude of mind under the sorest distresses, and hold on and out unto the end: in short, he is the strength of their hearts, under the greatest trials, of their lives, amidst the greatest dangers; and of their salvation, notwithstanding all their enemies;

a very present help in trouble; whether inward or outward, of soul or body; the Lord helps his people under it to bear it, and he helps them out of it in the most proper and seasonable time: they are poor helpless creatures in themselves; nor can any other help them but the Lord, who made heaven and earth; and he helps presently, speedily, and effectually: in the Hebrew text it is, "he is found an exceeding help in trouble" t; in all kind of trouble that the saints come into, the Lord has been found, by experience, to be an exceeding great helper of them; moreover, he is easily and always to be come at, and found by them for their help.

t נמצא מאד "inventum valde", Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

God is our refuge and strength - God is for us as a place to which we may flee for safety; a source of strength to us in danger. The first word, “refuge,” from a verb meaning to “flee,” and then “to flee to” - הסה châsâh - or to take shelter in - denotes a place to which one would flee in time of danger - as a lofty wall; a high tower; a fort; a fortress. See the notes at Psalms 18:2. The idea here is, that the people of God, in time of danger, may find him to be what such a place of refuge would be. Compare Proverbs 18:10. The word “strength” implies that God is the source of strength to those who are weak and defenseless; or that we may rely on his strength “as if” it were our own; or that we may feel as safe in his strength as though we had that strength ourselves. We may make it the basis of our confidence as really as though the strength resided in our own arm. See the notes at Psalms 18:2.

A very present help - The word “help” here means aid, assistance. The word “trouble” would cover all that can come upon us which would give us anxiety or sorrow. The word rendered “present” - נמצא nimetsâ' - means rather, “is found,” or “has been found;” that is, he has “proved” himself to be a help in trouble. The word “present,” as if he were near to us, or close by us, does not accurately express the idea, which is rather, that “he has been found” to be such, or that he has always “proved” himself to be such a help, and that, therefore, we may now confide in him. The word “very,” or “exceedingly,” is added to qualify the whole proposition, as if this were “emphatically true.” It was true in the most eminent sense that God had always been found to be such a helper, and, “therefore,” there was nothing to fear in the present distress. Psalms 46:2.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

PSALM XLVI

The confidence of believers in God, 1-3.

The privileges of the Church, 4, 5;

her enemies, and her helper, 6, 7.

God's judgments in the earth, 8, 9.

He will be exalted among the heathen, and throughout the earth,

10, 11.


NOTES ON PSALM XLVI

The title in the Hebrew is, "To the chief musician for the sons of Korah; an ode upon Alamoth, or concerning the virgins:" possibly meaning a choir of singing girls. Some translate the word secrets or mysteries; and explain it accordingly. Calmet thinks it was composed by the descendants of Korah, on their return from the Babylonian captivity, when they had once more got peaceably settled in Jerusalem; and that the disturbances to which it refers were those which took place in the Persian empire after the death of Cambyses, when the Magi usurped the government. Many other interpretations and conjectures are given of the occasion of this fine ode. Houbigant thinks it was made on occasion of an earthquake, which he supposes took place on the night that all Sennacherib's army was destroyed, Dr. Kennicott thinks that alamoth means a musical instrument. All I can pretend to say about it is, that it is a very sublime ode; contains much consolation for the Church of God; and was given by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit.

Verse Psalms 46:1. God is our refuge — It begins abruptly, but nobly; ye may trust in whom and in what ye please: but GOD (ELOHIM) is our refuge and strength.

A very present help — A help found to be very powerful and effectual in straits and difficulties. The words are very emphatic: עזרה בצרות נמצא מאד ezerah betsaroth nimtsa meod, "He is found an exceeding, or superlative help in difficulties." Such we have found him, and therefore celebrate his praise.


 
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