Psalm 91 is the Church's great prayer of protection, a song of total trust in God who shelters us under his wings. It is prayed especially at night and in times of danger.
The Psalm
He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High,
shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob.
He shall say to the Lord: You are my protector and my refuge:
my God, in him will I trust.
For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters,
and from the sharp word.
He will overshadow you with his shoulders,
and under his wings you shall trust.
His truth shall compass you with a shield:
you shall not be afraid of the terror of the night.
Of the arrow that flies in the day,
of the business that walks about in the dark,
of invasion, or of the noonday devil.
A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand:
but it shall not come near you.
Because you, O Lord, are my hope:
you have made the most High your refuge.
There shall no evil come to you:
nor shall the scourge come near your dwelling.
For he hath given his angels charge over you;
to keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up:
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known my name.
He shall cry to me, and I will hear him:
I am with him in tribulation,
I will deliver him, and I will glorify him.
I will fill him with length of days;
and I will show him my salvation.
When to Pray This Prayer
At night, before sleep, in times of fear or danger, and whenever you seek the shelter of God.
About This Prayer
Long prayed by the Church as a prayer against evil and at Compline, Psalm 91 promises the protection of God and the guardianship of his angels.
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Scripture: Psalm 90/91, Douay-Rheims (public domain).