Psalm 91 is known as the psalm of protection. Christians pray it in danger, in sickness, before travel and for soldiers far from home.
Psalm 91 · King James Version
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Living in God’s shelter means resting in His shadow: my refuge, my fortress.
Psalm 91 moves in three voices. First a person who trusts: “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress.” Then a voice of encouragement to that person: you shall not be afraid of the terror by night. Finally God Himself speaks: “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him.”
Its images are shelter images: a secret place, a shadow, feathers and wings, a shield. The psalm does not deny danger; it names plagues, arrows and terror. It promises that the one who dwells with God is held through them.
To pray it, read it aloud and change “he” to “I” or to the name of someone you love.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
The Lord keeps your going out and your coming in, now and for evermore.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God is a refuge and a very present help, right now, in this trouble.
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
The Lord is faithful. He will strengthen you and guard you from evil.
It is prayed for protection: in danger, illness, travel, and for loved ones such as soldiers and first responders.
The psalm does not name its author. Jewish tradition links it to Moses, because Psalm 90 is attributed to him.
Verses 1-2: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”