Psalm 46
King James Version
A psalm of confidence in God as refuge, source of the line "Be still, and know that I am God."
Download the handwriting worksheet (PDF)Printable, ruled for handwriting: copy it by hand, then type it here.
About this text
Psalm 46 is attributed to "the sons of Korah," one of several named groups of psalm-writers besides David, and is the psalm Martin Luther drew on centuries later for his hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Its central line, "Be still, and know that I am God," is widely quoted on its own, often stripped of the psalm's surrounding imagery of earthquakes, roaring seas, and nations at war.
The refrain "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" appears twice, marking off what were likely the psalm's original stanza breaks even though the King James text doesn't set them apart visually. Watching for that repeated line while copying is a way to feel the psalm's structure even without stanza breaks marked on the page.
What to watch for
- 6 semicolons: a semicolon joins two complete thoughts that belong together, a pause longer than a comma but shorter than a period.
- 3 colons: a colon points ahead to what explains or completes the first half of the sentence.
- Capital letters in the middle of a sentence: God, High, LORD, Jacob. Ask why each one is capitalized before typing it.
- Old-fashioned words: hath, maketh, unto, breaketh, cutteth, burneth. These are easy to "correct" by accident into modern spelling, so copy them exactly as written.
- Longest word: "tabernacles" (11 letters). Try spelling it aloud once before reaching it.
- 11 lines averaging about 19 words each. Long lines: a younger child may do half the text per sitting.
Full text (reference)
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.