The Lord a Refuge and Defense.

¹In the Lord I take refuge [and put my trust];

How can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to your mountain;

²For look, the wicked are bending the bow;

They take aim with their arrow on the string

To shoot [by stealth] in darkness at the upright in heart.

³“If the foundations [of a godly society] are destroyed,

What can the righteous do?”

⁴¶The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord ’s throne is in heaven.

His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of men. [Acts 7:49; Rev 4:2]

⁵The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,

And His soul hates the [malevolent] one who loves violence. [James 1:12]

⁶Upon the wicked (godless) He will rain coals of fire;

Fire and brimstone and a dreadful scorching wind will be the portion of their cup [of doom].

⁷For the Lord is [absolutely] righteous, He loves righteousness (virtue, morality, justice);

The upright shall see His face.