Tehillim (Psalms) Chapter 91

I was finishing up on my weekly parashah reading last night and then randomly turned to this page and was led to this awesome message that brought me comfort. These are strange times that we are living in, to say the least, so I wanted to share this message with you. When times are difficult and we feel helpless, there's only one source for comfort and shalom.

I have included Rashi's commentary, for further explanation. Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Shlomo Yitzhaki), known as Rashi (based on an acronym of his Hebrew initials), is one of the most influential Jewish commentators in history. He was born in Troyes, Champagne, in northern France, in 1040. Well known for his clarity of style, his conciseness, and his ability to shed light on obscure ideas, Rashi's commentaries are widely studied to this day.

Much Love and Blessings!

1) He who dwells in the covert of the Most High will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty.

א יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן בְּצֵ֥ל שַׁ֜דַּ֗י יִתְלוֹנָֽן:

He who dwells in the covert of the Most High: He who takes shelter in the covert of the wings of the Shechinahhe will lodge in His shadow, for the Holy One, blessed be He, protects him. Moses, our teacher, hereby persuades people to take shelter in the wings of the Shechinah.

the Almighty: Heb. שדי, an expression of strength. “He who dwells in the covert of the Most High” is like (Song 2:3): “in His shadow I desired and sat.”

2) I shall say of the Lord [that He is] my shelter and my fortress, my God in Whom I trust.

ב אֹמַ֗ר לַֽ֖יהֹוָה מַחְסִּ֣י וּמְצֽוּדָתִ֑י אֱ֜לֹהַ֗י אֶבְטַח־בּֽוֹ:

I shall say of the Lord [that He is] my shelter and my fortress: and all will learn from me. Now why do I say this?

3) For He will save you from the snare that traps from the devastating pestilence.

ג כִּ֚י ה֣וּא יַ֖צִּֽילְךָ מִפַּ֥ח יָק֗וּשׁ מִדֶּ֥בֶר הַוּֽוֹת:

For He will save you from the snare that traps, etc.: To everyone he says, “He who dwells in the covert of the Most High.”

4) With His wing He will cover you, and under His wings you will take refuge; His truth is an encompassing shield.

ד בְּאֶבְרָת֨וֹ | יָ֥סֶךְ לָ֗ךְ וְתַ֣חַת כְּנָפָ֣יו תֶּחְסֶּ֑ה צִנָּ֖ה וְסֹֽחֵרָ֣ה אֲמִתּֽוֹ:

With His wing He will cover… you will take refuge: You will be covered.

an encompassing shield: Heb. צנה וסחרה. This is a shield that encompasses a man closely on his four sides. וסֹחֵרָה is an expression of סְחוֹר סְחוֹר, around.

5) You will not fear the fright of night, the arrow that flies by day;

ה לֹֽא־תִ֖ירָא מִפַּ֣חַד לָ֑יְלָה מֵ֜חֵ֗ץ יָ֘ע֥וּף יוֹמָֽם:

You will not fear: if you trust in Him. the arrow that flies by day: the demon that flies like an arrow.

6) Pestilence that prowls in darkness, destruction that ravages at noon.

ו מִדֶּבֶר בָּאֹ֣פֶל יַֽהֲלֹ֑ךְ מִ֜קֶּ֗טֶב יָ֘שׁ֥וּד צָֽהֳרָֽיִם:

Pestilence, etc., destruction: These are names of demons; one destroys at night, and one destroys at noon. ravages: Heb. יָשוּד, [equivalent to] יְשוֹדֵד.

7) A thousand will be stationed at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not approach you.

ז יִפֹּ֚ל מִצִּדְּךָ֨ | אֶ֗לֶף וּרְבָבָ֥ה מִֽימִינֶ֑ךָ אֵ֜לֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א יִגָּֽשׁ:

A thousand will be stationed at your side: Heb. יפל, an expression of encamping, as (Gen. 25:18): “before the face of all his brothers did he settle (נפל).” at your side: At your left a thousand demons will be stationed, and they will not approach you to harm [you].

8) You will but gaze with your eyes, and you will see the annihilation of the wicked.

ח רַק בְּעֵינֶ֣יךָ תַבִּ֑יט וְשִׁלֻּמַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה:

and… the annihilation: Heb. ושלמת, complete destruction. And why?

9) For you [said], "The Lord is my refuge"; the Most High you made your dwelling.

ט כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֣ה מַחְסִּ֑י עֶ֜לְי֗וֹן שַׂ֣מְתָּ מְעוֹנֶֽךָ:

For you: You said, “The Lord is my refuge.” This is an elliptical verse.

the Most High you made your dwelling: You made the Holy One, blessed be He, the seat of your trust.

10) No harm will befall you, nor will a plague draw near to your tent.

י לֹֽא־תְאֻנֶּ֣ה אֵלֶ֣יךָ רָעָ֑ה וְ֜נֶ֗גַע לֹֽא־יִקְרַ֥ב בְּאָֽהֳלֶֽךָ:

No… will befall: Heb. לא תאנה, will not happen. Similarly, (Exod. 21:13): “and God allowed it to happen (אנה) to his hand.”

11) For He will command His angels on your behalf to guard you in all your ways.

יא כִּ֣י מַ֖לְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּ֑ךְ לִ֜שְׁמָרְךָ֗ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶֽיךָ:

12) On [their] hands they will bear you, lest your foot stumble on a stone.

יב עַל־כַּפַּ֥יִם יִשָּׂא֑וּנְךָ פֶּן־תִּגֹּ֖ף בָּאֶ֣בֶן רַגְלֶֽךָ:

lest… stumble: Heb. תגף, lest it [your foot] stumble, and so every expression of נְגִפָה, acupir, azoper, to hit, strike against.

13) On a young lion and a cobra you will tread; you will trample the young lion and the serpent.

יג עַל־שַׁ֣חַל וָפֶ֣תֶן תִּדְרֹ֑ךְ תִּ֜רְמֹ֗ס כְּפִ֣יר וְתַנִּֽין:

14) For he yearns for Me, and I shall rescue him; I shall fortify him because he knows My name.

יד כִּ֚י בִ֣י חָ֖שַׁק וַֽאֲפַלְּטֵ֑הוּ אֲ֜שַׂגְּבֵ֗הוּ כִּֽי־יָ֘דַ֥ע שְׁמִֽי:

15) He will call Me and I shall answer him; I am with him in distress; I shall rescue him and I shall honor him.

טו יִקְרָאֵ֨נִי | וְֽאֶֽעֱנֵ֗הוּ עִמּֽוֹ־אָֽנֹכִ֥י בְצָרָ֑ה אֲ֜חַלְּצֵ֗הוּ וַֽאֲכַבְּדֵֽהוּ:

16) With length of days I shall satiate him, and I shall show him My Salvation.

טז אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֖מִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵ֑הוּ וְ֜אַרְאֵ֗הוּ בִּישֽׁוּעָתִֽי: