1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High ♦
and abides under the shadow of the Almighty,
2 Shall say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my stronghold, ♦
my God, in whom I put my trust.’
3 For he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler ♦
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with his wings
and you shall be safe under his feathers; ♦
his faithfulness shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, ♦
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, ♦
nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand, ♦
yet it shall not come near you.
8 Your eyes have only to behold ♦
to see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge ♦
and the Most High your stronghold,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, ♦
neither shall any plague come near your tent.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, ♦
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, ♦
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; ♦
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 Because they have set their love upon me,
therefore will I deliver them; ♦
I will lift them up, because they know my name.
15 They will call upon me and I will answer them; ♦
I am with them in trouble,
I will deliver them and bring them to honour.
16 With long life will I satisfy them ♦
and show them my salvation.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.