Psalm 91 in Latin is one of the most beloved prayers of protection in Christian tradition. Below you will find the full Latin text from the Nova Vulgata next to a verse-by-verse English translation, plus a short guide to pronouncing it and understanding how it is used in Catholic prayer.
Psalm 91 in Latin and English
| Latin (Nova Vulgata) | English translation |
|---|---|
| Qui habitat in adiutorio Altissimi, in protectione Dei caeli commorabitur. | He who dwells in the help of the Most High will abide under the protection of the God of heaven. |
| Dicet Domino: «Refugium meum et fortitudo mea, Deus meus, in quem confido». | He will say to the Lord: “My refuge and my strength, my God, in whom I trust.” |
| Quoniam ipse liberavit te de laqueo venantium et a verbo aspero. | For he himself has delivered you from the snare of the hunters and from the harsh word. |
| Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi, et sub pennis eius sperabis. | He will cover you with his shoulders, and under his wings you will hope. |
| Scuto circumdabit te veritas eius; non timebis a timore nocturno, | His truth will surround you like a shield; you will not fear the terror of the night, |
| a sagitta volante per diem et a negotio perambulante in tenebris, ab incursu et daemonio meridiano. | nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the plague that walks in darkness, nor the onslaught and the noonday demon. |
| Cadent a latere tuo mille et decem milia a dextris tuis; ad te autem non appropinquabit. | A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. |
| Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis et retributionem peccatorum videbis. | You will only look with your eyes and see the retribution of the wicked. |
| Quoniam tu es, Domine, spes mea; Altissimum posuisti refugium tuum. | For you, Lord, are my hope; you have made the Most High your refuge. |
| Non accedet ad te malum, et flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo. | No evil will befall you, and no scourge will come near your tent. |
| Quoniam angelis suis mandavit de te, ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. | For he has commanded his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. |
| In manibus portabunt te, ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum. | In their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. |
| Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis et conculcabis leonem et draconem. | You will tread upon the asp and the basilisk, and trample the lion and the dragon. |
| Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum; protegam eum, quoniam cognovit nomen meum. | “Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knew my name. |
| Clamabit ad me, et ego exaudiam eum; cum ipso sum in tribulatione, eripiam eum et glorificabo eum. | He will cry to me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and glorify him. |
| Longitudine dierum replebo eum et ostendam illi salutare meum. | I will fill him with length of days and show him my salvation.” |
The Latin above follows the Nova Vulgata, the Church’s official Latin edition. The English is a literal translation of that Latin, so it may differ slightly from the wording of your favorite English Bible, which is usually translated from the Hebrew.
Why is it called Psalm 90 in Latin?
Catholic Latin texts follow the Septuagint and Vulgate numbering, which counts one number less than most English Bibles for many psalms. That is why Psalm 91 in the Hebrew and English numbering appears as Psalm 90 (“Qui habitat”) in older Latin books. It is the same psalm.
How Psalm 91 is used in prayer
In the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 91 is the psalm of Sunday Night Prayer (Compline), and many Catholics pray it before sleep or in times of danger, illness or fear. Its best-known verses, “He has commanded his angels concerning you” (verses 11–12), are also quoted in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke during the temptation of Jesus in the desert.
How to pronounce Psalm 91 in Latin
Most Catholics use ecclesiastical (Church) pronunciation. A few basic rules are enough to read it aloud:
- c before e or i sounds like “ch”: caeli ≈ “CHEH-lee”.
- ae sounds like “eh”.
- ti before a vowel sounds like “tsee”: protectione ≈ “pro-tek-tsee-OH-neh”.
- gn sounds like “ny”, and qu like “kw”.
- Vowels are pure: a “ah”, e “eh”, i “ee”, o “oh”, u “oo”.
Frequently asked questions about Psalm 91
It is a psalm of trust in God’s protection. It describes the believer who takes refuge in the Most High and is kept safe from danger, fear and evil.
Yes. It appears in every Catholic and Protestant Bible, although Catholic Latin editions number it Psalm 90.
The Hebrew text names no author. The Greek Septuagint attributes it to David, while some traditions link it to Moses. Scholars do not agree on a single answer.
There is no fixed time. It is prayed at Sunday Night Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and in moments when protection or comfort is needed.
No. The Latin follows the Nova Vulgata; the English is a literal translation of that Latin made for this page and is not taken from any published Bible.