Selah — a term of uncertain meaning found in the Hebrew text of the Psalms and Habakkuk carried over untranslated into some English versions (Merriam-Webster)
Uncertain meaning, but scholars have studied the word and come to some conclusions. The most commonly accepted definitions are to measure or weigh (from ‘calah’) or to pause (from ‘salah’). I like the way the Amplified Bible puts these meanings together, and comments after each rendition of Selah
“Pause, and calmly think about that.”
What I’ve done below is to gather the 74 verses which contain the word, and presented them in isolation for you to read, and then to pause, and calmly think about them.
I do not recommend that you try to do this with all the verses in one session! You might want to take one or two at a time, either sequentially from 1 to 74, or perhaps just picking a random number and focusing on that verse.
I want to make a few more observations.
First, while most of the verses are uplifting in the way they describe God’s wonderful attributes, some have a more melancholy feel. For example, the fourth, Psalm 4:2 – How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? We don’t always like to dwell on verses like these, but we should do so anyway, because they help us recognise our weaknesses, or our challenges, or our enemies.
Second, I’ve done something here that I really don’t like doing, and which I will criticise others for doing, and that is to present these verses completely out of context. I’m not even using them to support an argument or opinion. They are simply there, in black and white, and I pray that God will speak to you through them. But if they don’t seem complete in themselves, I urge you to click the link and then expand the passage to view the whole psalm or chapter.
Finally, you may notice occasional repetition. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I tend to think if God repeats Himself, He probably has a very good reason for doing so. Pause, and calmly think about that!
- Psalm 3:2
Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah - Psalm 3:4
I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah - Psalm 3:8
Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah - Psalm 4:2
How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah - Psalm 4:4
Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah - Psalm 7:5
Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah - Psalm 9:16
The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah - Psalm 9:20
Put them in fear, O Lord, That the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah - Psalm 20:3
May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah - Psalm 21:2
You have given him his heart’s desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah - Psalm 24:6
This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah - Psalm 24:10
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah - Psalm 32:4
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah - Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah - Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah - Psalm 39:5
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah - Psalm 39:11
When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. Selah - Psalm 44:8
In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah - Psalm 46:3
Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah - Psalm 46:7
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah - Psalm 46:11
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah - Psalm 47:4
He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah - Psalm 48:8
As we have heard, So we have seen In the city of the Lord of hosts, In the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah - Psalm 49:13
This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah - Psalm 49:15
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah - Psalm 50:6
Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Selah - Psalm 52:3
You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah - Psalm 52:5
God shall likewise destroy you forever; He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah - Psalm 54:3
For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah - Psalm 55:7
Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah - Psalm 55:19
God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. - Psalm 57:3
He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. - Psalm 57:6
They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah - Psalm 59:5
You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, Awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah - Psalm 59:13
Consume them in wrath, consume them, That they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob To the ends of the earth. Selah - Psalm 60:4
You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah - Psalm 61:4
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah - Psalm 62:4
They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah - Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah - Psalm 66:4
All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name. Selah - Psalm 66:7
He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah - Psalm 66:15
I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah - Psalm 67:1
God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah - Psalm 67:4
Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah - Psalm 68:7
O God, when You went out before Your people, When You marched through the wilderness, Selah - Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah - Psalm 68:32
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; Oh, sing praises to the Lord, Selah - Psalm 75:3
The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. Selah - Psalm 76:3
There He broke the arrows of the bow, The shield and sword of battle. Selah - Psalm 76:9
When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah - Psalm 77:3
I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah - Psalm 77:9
Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah - Psalm 77:15
You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah - Psalm 81:7
You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah - Psalm 82:2
How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah - Psalm 83:8
Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah - Psalm 84:4
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah - Psalm 84:8
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah - Psalm 85:2
You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah - Psalm 87:3
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah - Psalm 87:6
The Lord will record, When He registers the peoples: “This one was born there.” Selah - Psalm 88:7
Your wrath lies heavy upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah - Psalm 88:10
Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah - Psalm 89:4
‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’ Selah - Psalm 89:37
It shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky. Selah - Psalm 89:45
The days of his youth You have shortened; You have covered him with shame. Selah - Psalm 89:48
What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah - Psalm 140:3
They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah - Psalm 140:5
The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me. Selah - Psalm 140:8
Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; Do not further his wicked scheme, Lest they be exalted. Selah - Psalm 143:6
I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah - Habakkuk 3:3
God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise. - Habakkuk 3:9
Your bow was made quite ready; Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah You divided the earth with rivers. - Habakkuk 3:13
You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah
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