Psalm 91 · KJV
Psalm 91
The Psalm of Protection
Psalm 91 is a promise of God's protection: whoever makes the Most High their refuge is kept safe through danger, disease, and fear — not because trouble never comes, but because God covers, guards, and answers those who trust Him.
Psalm 91 (KJV)
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.
What Psalm 91 means
Psalm 91 opens with one of Scripture's most vivid pictures of safety — living "in the secret place of the most High" and resting "under the shadow of the Almighty." The imagery is deliberately protective: a refuge, a fortress, wings to hide beneath, a shield and buckler. The point is not that the believer is promised an easy life, but that they are never unguarded. Terror by night, arrows by day, pestilence and destruction are all named — and all pass under God's watch.
The psalm turns in the final verses to God speaking in the first person: "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him." Protection here is tied to relationship — to knowing God's name and calling on Him. It has comforted soldiers, the sick, and the frightened for three thousand years precisely because it is honest about danger and confident about who holds it.
Key verses
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1 · KJV — The refuge the whole psalm is built on.
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
Psalm 91:11 · KJV — The promise of angelic guard, quoted throughout the New Testament.
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A prayer from Psalm 91
Most High God, be my refuge and my fortress. When I am afraid, cover me under Your wings and steady my heart. I set my love on You and trust You to keep me. Amen.
Themes in this passage
Related passages
Frequently asked
What does Psalm 91 mean?
Psalm 91 is a promise of God's protection: whoever makes the Most High their refuge is kept safe through danger, disease, and fear — not because trouble never comes, but because God covers, guards, and answers those who trust Him.
What is Psalm 91 about?
Psalm 91 opens with one of Scripture's most vivid pictures of safety — living "in the secret place of the most High" and resting "under the shadow of the Almighty." The imagery is deliberately protective: a refuge, a fortress, wings to hide beneath, a shield and buckler. The point is not that the believer is promised an easy life, but that they are never unguarded. Terror by night, arrows by day, pestilence and destruction are all named — and all pass under God's watch.
What is the key verse in Psalm 91?
Psalm 91:1 — “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
Is Psalm 91 in the King James Version?
Yes. The full text of Psalm 91 on this page is the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain.