Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

◄ Psalm 46:1 ►

New International Version
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

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

English Standard Version
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

New American Standard Bible
For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble.

NASB 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.

NASB 1977
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the choir director. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Amplified Bible
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to soprano voices. A Song. God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble.

Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. † God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found 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.

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

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[For the choir director; a song by the descendants of Korah; according to [alamoth].] God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Good News Translation
God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

International Standard Version
God is our refuge and strength, a great help in times of distress.

Majority 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.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
[For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in 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
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
TO THE OVERSEER. BY SONS OF KORAH. FOR GIRLS’ [VOICES]. A SONG. God [is] our refuge and strength, "" A most sure help in adversities.

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.

Smith's Literal Translation
To the overseer for the sons of Korah, with the female voice: a song. O God, to us refuge and strength, helping greatly, being found in straits.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden. Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Unto the end. To the sons of Korah, for confidants. A Psalm. Our God is our refuge and strength, a helper in the tribulations that have greatly overwhelmed us.

New American Bible
For the leader. A song of the Korahites. According to alamoth. [2] God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.

New Revised Standard Version
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Our God is our strong house of refuge, and he is found to us our helper always in times of trouble.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For the Leader; [a Psalm] of the sons of Korah; upon Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the end, for the sons of Core; a Psalm concerning secret things. God is our refuge and strength, a help in the afflictions that have come heavily upon us.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

God is Our Refuge and Strength
1For 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. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Nahum 1:7
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’

Psalm 91:2
I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 62:7-8
My salvation and my honor rest on God, my strong rock; my refuge is in God. / Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 9:9
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 27:1
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?

2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Isaiah 25:4
For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall,

Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Treasury of Scripture

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 84:1
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

Psalm 85:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

Psalm 87:1
A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is in the holy mountains.

A song

Psalm 48:1
A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Psalm 66:1
To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

Alamoth

1 Chronicles 15:20
And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;

refuge

Psalm 46:7,11
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah…

Psalm 62:7,8
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God…

Psalm 91:1-9
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…

a very

Psalm 145:18
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Genesis 22:14
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Deuteronomy 4:7
For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

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Adversities Alamoth Chief Choirmaster Director Distresses Found Harbour Help Korah Leader Music Musical Musician Music-Maker Overseer Present Psalm Readily Refuge Song Song&Gt Strength Surely Term Trouble Virgins

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Psalm 46

1. The confidence which the church has in God
8. An exhortation to behold it

Berean Study Bible

God
The Hebrew word used here is "Elohim," a plural form that denotes majesty and power. It is a reminder of the divine sovereignty and the omnipotent nature of God. In the context of the ancient Near East, where polytheism was prevalent, the use of "Elohim" underscores the monotheistic belief in one true God who is above all other deities. This sets the stage for understanding the rest of the verse, as it is this powerful and majestic God who is being described.

is
This simple verb connects the subject, "God," with His attributes. It emphasizes the present and continuous nature of God's character. In the original Hebrew, the verb is implied rather than explicitly stated, which is common in Hebrew poetry. This implies a timeless truth about God's nature, suggesting that He is eternally consistent and unchanging.

our refuge
The Hebrew word for "refuge" is "machseh," which conveys a sense of shelter or protection. In ancient times, a refuge was a place of safety from enemies or natural disasters. This imagery would have been particularly powerful for the Israelites, who often faced threats from surrounding nations. The term suggests not only physical safety but also spiritual and emotional security, indicating that God provides a sanctuary for His people.

and strength
The word "strength" in Hebrew is "oz," which implies might, power, and resilience. This term complements "refuge" by suggesting that God is not only a place of safety but also a source of empowerment. In the historical context, strength was often associated with military power or the ability to withstand adversity. For believers, this means that God equips them with the inner fortitude to face life's challenges.

an ever-present help
The phrase "ever-present" translates the Hebrew "nimtsa meod," which means exceedingly found or abundantly available. This suggests that God's assistance is not sporadic or limited but is always accessible. The historical context of this phrase would resonate with the Israelites, who experienced God's presence in the tabernacle and later the temple. For Christians, it reflects the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, assuring them of God's constant companionship.

in times of trouble
The Hebrew word for "trouble" is "tsarah," which refers to distress, adversity, or affliction. This encompasses a wide range of difficulties, from personal struggles to national crises. The phrase indicates that God's help is particularly relevant during challenging times. Historically, the Israelites faced numerous periods of trouble, from slavery in Egypt to exile in Babylon. This assurance of divine help would have been a source of great comfort and hope.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Refuge and strength.--Better, a refuge and stronghold, or a sure stronghold, as in Luther's hymn,

Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.

A very present help.--Better, often found a help.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - God is our Refuge and Strength (comp. Psalm 18:2; Psalm 94:22, etc.). A very present Help in trouble; literally, a very accessible Help - one easy to be found (comp. 2 Chronicles 15:4).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

For the choirmaster.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ (lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ)
Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5329: To glitter from afar, to be eminent, to be permanent

Of the sons
לִבְנֵי־ (liḇ·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Korah.
קֹ֑רַח (qō·raḥ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7141: Korah -- an Edomite name, also an Israelite name

According to
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Alamoth.
עֲלָמ֥וֹת (‘ă·lā·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5961: Girls, the soprano, female voice, falsetto

A Song.
שִֽׁיר׃ (šîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7892: A song, singing

God
אֱלֹהִ֣ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is our refuge
מַחֲסֶ֣ה (ma·ḥă·seh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4268: Refuge, shelter

and strength,
וָעֹ֑ז (wā·‘ōz)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5797: Strength, might

an ever-present
נִמְצָ֥א (nim·ṣā)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

help
עֶזְרָ֥ה (‘ez·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5833: Help, helper, assistance

in times of trouble.
בְ֝צָר֗וֹת (ḇə·ṣā·rō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6869: Tightness, a female rival

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OT Poetry: Psalm 46:1 For the Chief Musician (Psalm Ps Psa.)