Psalm 46

P S A L M S — 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56

General information

See Ein feste Burg for Luthers versification of this psalm

Settings by composers

J.S. Bach, BWV 80 (SATB, German) Giovanni Bassano SSAT.ATTB (vv. 2-4, Latin) John Blow SSAATTBB or SATB.SATB (vv. 1-3,5, English) Matthew Cooke SATB (vv. 1-6, English, metrical Old Version) Lewis Edson SATB (English, metrical New Version) Hans Leo Hassler SSATTB (vv. 1-7, Latin) Andrea Gabrieli SATTB (vv. 2-8, Latin) Richard Garbett SATB (vv. 1,4,6,10, English, metrical New Version) Brian Marble A (v. 2-3, 5-6, 8-9, English)

Orlando di Lasso SATTB (v. 2, Latin) Claudio Merulo SSAT.ATTB (vv. 2-4, Latin) Philippe de Monte SSATB (vv. 9-12, Latin) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart SATB (v. 1, English KJV) Johann Pachelbel SATB.SATB (vv. 1-7, German) Johann Heinrich Rolle SATB (vv. 9-11, German) Johann Baptist Schiedermayr SATB (Latin) Georg Philipp Telemann 3 equal voices (v. 1, German) Melchior Vulpius SAAT or STTB (vv. 1, Latin)

See also Ein feste Burg for settings of Martin Luther's German paraphrase of the psalm.

Text and translations

Clementine Vulgate (Psalm 45) Latin text 1  In finem. filiis Core, pro arcanis. Psalmus. 2  Deus noster refugium et virtus; adjutor in tribulationibus quae invenerunt nos nimis. 3  Propterea non timebimus dum turbabitur terra, et transferentur montes in cor maris. 4  Sonuerunt, et et turbatae sunt aquae eorum; conturbati sunt montes in fortitudine ejus. 5  Fluminis impetus laetificat civitatem Dei: sanctificavit tabernaculum suum Altissimus. 6  Deus in medio ejus, non commovebitur; adjuvabit eam Deus mane diluculo. 7  Conturbatae sunt gentes, et inclinata sunt regna: dedit vocem suam, mota est terra. 8  Dominus virtutem nobiscum; susceptor noster Deus Iacob. 9  Venite, et videte opera Domini, quae posuit prodigia super terram, 10  auferens bella usque ad finem terrae. Arcum conteret, et confringet arma, et scuta comburet igni. 11  Vacate, et videte quoniam ego sum Deus; exaltabor in gentibus, et exaltabor in terra. 12  Dominus virtutum nobiscum; suscuptor noster Deus Iacob.

Church of England 1662 Book of Common Prayer English text Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden things. A psalm. 1  God is our hope and strength: a very present help in trouble. 2  Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved: and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea; 3  Though the waters thereof rage and swell: and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same. 4  The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God: the holy place of the tabernacle of the most Highest. 5  God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed: God shall help her, and that right early. 6  The heathen make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved: but God hath shewed his voice, and the earth shall melt away. 7  The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge. 8  O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord: what destruction he hath brought upon the earth. 9  He maketh wars to cease in all the world: he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire. 10  Be still then, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth. 11  The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Metrical 'Old Version' (John Hopkins) English text 1  The Lord is our defence and aid, The strength whereby we stand; When we with woe are much dismay'd He is our help at hand. 2  Though earth do move, we will not fear, Though mountains high and steep Be thrust and hurled here and there Within the sea so deep: 3  No, though the sea do rage so sore, That all the banks it spills, And though it overflow the shore, And beat down mighty hills: 4  For one fair flood doth send abroad His pleasant streams apace, To glad the city of our God, And wash his holy place. 5  In midst of her the Lord doth dwell, She never can decay, All things against her that rebel The Lord will surely slay. 6  The heathen folk and kingdoms fear, The people make a noise, The earth doth melt and disappear, When God puts forth his voice. 7  The Lord of hosts doth take our part, To us he hath an eye: Our hope of health with all our heart On Jacob's God doth lie. 8  Come here, and see with mind and thought The working of our God, What wonders he himself hath wrought In all the world abroad: 9  By him all wars are hush'd and gone, Though countries did conspire; Their bows and spears he brake each one, Their chariots burnt with fire. 10  Be still therefore, and know that I Am God, and therefore will Among the heathen people be Highly exalted still. 11  The Lord of hosts doth us defend, He is our strength and tow'r; On Jacob's God we do depend, And on his mighty pow'r.

Metrical 'New Version' (Tate and Brady) English text 1  God is our refuge in distress, A present help when dangers press. In him undaunted we'll confide, 2-3  Though earth were from her centre tossed, And mountains in the ocean lost, Torn piecemeal by the roaring tide. 4  A gentler stream with gladness still The city of our God shall fill, The royal seat of God most high. 5  God dwells in Sion, whose fair tow’rs Shall mock th’assaults of earthly pow’rs While his almighty aid is nigh. 6  In tumults when the heathen raged, And kingdoms war against us waged, He thundered, and dispersed their pow’rs. 7  The Lord of Hosts conducts our arms, Our tow’r of refuge in alarms, Our fathers’ guardian God, and ours. 8  Come see the wonders he hath wrought, On earth what desolation brought; How he has calm’d the jarring world: 9  He broke the warlike spear and bow; With them their thund’ring chariots too Into devouring flames were hurl’d. 10  Submit to God’s almighty sway, For him the heathen shall obey, And earth her sov’reign Lord confess: 11  The God of Hosts conducts our arms, Our tow’r of refuge in alarms, As to our fathers in distress.

English translation by Henry Ainsworth English translation - The Book of Psalmes : Englished both in Prose and Meter (Amsterdam 1612) carried to New England on the Mayflower An hopeful-shelter and a strength, unto us God wilbee: A succour in distresses, find vehemently shal wee. Therfore we wil not be a-frayed, al-though the earth change place: and though the mountaynes moved be, unto hart of the seas. Though waters therof make a noyse, though muddy be shal they: though for the haughty-ness therof, the mountains quake Selah. Ther is a flood, the streams therof, shal gladd the citie of God: the holy-place, the places of the Highest-ones abode. 6.God is in middest of the same, it shal not moved bee: at looking-forth of th'early-morn, God help the same wil bee. The nations did make a noyse, the kingdoms moved were: give-forth did he his thondring-voice, the earth did melt-with-fear. 8.The God of armies is with us, the everbeing-JAH: the God of Jakob is for us a refuge-hye Selah. Jehovahs operations, O come-on ye & see: that wondrous-desolations put in the earth dooth hee. 10.Unto the utmost end of th'earth, he maketh cease the warrs: he breaks the bow, and cutts the spear, in fyre he burns the carrs. 11.Surcease & know, that I am God: exalted be wil I among the heathens: through the earth Ile be exalted-hye. 12.The God of armies is with us the ever-being-JAH: the God of Jakob is for us a refuge-hye Selah.

Luther's 1545 Bible translation German translation 1 (Ein Lied der Kinder Korah, von der Jugend, vorzusingen.) Gott ist unsre Zuversicht und Stärke. Eine Hilfe in den großen Nöten, die uns getroffen haben. 2 Darum fürchten wir uns nicht, wenngleich die Welt unterginge und die Berge mitten ins Meer sänken, 3 wenngleich das Meer wütete und wallte und von seinem Ungestüm die Berge einfielen. (Sela.) 4 Dennoch soll die Stadt Gottes fein lustig bleiben mit ihren Brünnlein, da die heiligen Wohnungen des Höchsten sind. 5 Gott ist bei ihr drinnen, darum wird sie fest bleiben; Gott hilft ihr früh am Morgen. 6 Die Heiden müssen verzagen und die Königreiche fallen; das Erdreich muß vergehen, wenn er sich hören läßt. 7 Der HERR Zebaoth ist mit uns; der Gott Jakobs ist unser Schutz. (Sela.) 8 Kommet her und schauet die Werke des HERRN, der auf Erden solch zerstören anrichtet, 9 der den Kriegen steuert in aller Welt, den Bogen zerbricht, Spieße zerschlägt und Wagen mit Feuer verbrennt. 10 Seid stille und erkennet, daß ich GOTT bin. Ich will Ehre einlegen unter den Heiden; ich will Ehre einlegen auf Erden. 11 Der HERR Zebaoth ist mit uns; der Gott Jakobs ist unser Schutz. (Sela.)

Káldi fordítás (45. zsoltár) Hungarian translation Végig Kóre fiainak, zsoltár a titkokért. A mi Istenünk oltalom és erő; segítő a szorongatásokban, melyek igen elértek minket. Azért nem félünk, ha a föld megrendűl is, és a hegyek a tenger szivébe vitetnek. Zúgjanak bár és háborogjanak az ő vizei, rengjenek a hegyek az ő erőssége miatt: a folyó rohama fölvidítja az Isten városát, megszenteli hajlékát a Fölséges. Isten annak közepette van, s nem fog ingani; megsegíti őt Isten korán reggel. Fölháborodtak a nemzetek, és hanyatlottak az országok; ő szózatát adta, és megrendűlt a föld. Az erők Ura mivelünk; oltalmazónk Jákob Istene. Jőjetek elő, és lássátok az Úr cselekedeteit, minő csodákat tett a földön: Megszüntetvén a hadakat a föld végeig, eltöri a kézijat, és összezúzza a fegyvereket, és a paizsokat megégeti tűzzel. Szűnjetek meg, és lássátok, hogy én vagyok az Isten; fölmagasztaltatom a nemzetek között, és fölmagasztaltatom a földön. Az erők Ura mivelünk; oltalmazónk Jákob Istene.