לַמְנַצֵּחַ לִבְנֵי קֹרַח עַל עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר

For the chief musician, by the sons of Korah, a song on alamot. Alamot, literally, “young women,” may have been the name of a musical instrument played mostly by women. Alternatively, it may have been the name of the melody used for this psalm.

אֱלֹהִים לָנוּ מַחֲסֶה וָעֹז עֶזְרָה בְצָרוֹת נִמְצָא מְאֹד

God is our refuge and our strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble.

עַל כֵּן לֹא נִירָא בְּהָמִיר אָרֶץ וּבְמוֹט הָרִים בְּלֵב יַמִּים

Therefore, because God shelters us, we will not fear during earth’s upheaval, apparently a reference to an actual earthquake, or perhaps geopolitical turmoil, when mountains tumble into the heart of the sea,

יֶהֱמוּ יֶחְמְרוּ מֵימָיו יִרְעֲשׁוּ הָרִים בְּגַאֲוָתוֹ סֶלָה

though waters roar and foam and though mountains quake before His grandeur, as manifestations of God’s great power, Selah.

נָהָר פְּלָגָיו יְשַׂמְּחוּ עִיר אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשׁ מִשְׁכְּנֵי עֶלְיוֹן

There is a river whose streams gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High. As with the previous description, the river and its streams can be understood not in a literal sense, but as a metaphor for spiritual inspiration.

אֱלֹהִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ בַּל תִּמּוֹט יַעְזְרֶהָ אֱלֹהִים לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר

God is in its midst, in the midst of Jerusalem; therefore, it will not topple. God will help it in the darkness that precedes the dawn, toward morning, and not only during daylight hours.

הָמוּ גוֹיִם מָטוּ מַמְלָכוֹת נָתַן בְּקוֹלוֹ תָּמוּג אָרֶץ

Nations raged, kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice and the earth melted.

ה' צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ מִשְׂגָּב לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה

The Lord of hosts is with us. “Lord of hosts” is one of the names of God, depicting Him as ruler over all the powers of the world. The God of Jacob is our stronghold, Selah.

לְכוּ חֲזוּ מִפְעֲלוֹת ה' אֲשֶׁר שָׂם שַׁמּוֹת בָּאָרֶץ

Come behold the works of the Lord, His actions against the enemies, carried out by the Lord who made desolations, total devastation of them, on the earth.

מַשְׁבִּית מִלְחָמוֹת עַד קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ קֶשֶׁת יְשַׁבֵּר וְקִצֵּץ חֲנִית עֲגָלוֹת יִשְׂרֹף בָּאֵשׁ

He makes wars, the enemies’ attacks against us, cease throughout the earth; He breaks their bows and severs their spears. He burns their wagons, used to transport soldiers or supplies to the battlefront, in fire.

הַרְפּוּ וּדְעוּ כִּי אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִים אָרוּם בַּגּוֹיִם אָרוּם בָּאָרֶץ

God now speaks to those enemies: Desist from your attempts to wage war, and know that I am God. I tower above nations, tower above the land.

ה' צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ מִשְׂגָּב לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה

The psalmist repeats, as a refrain: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold, Selah.