Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 11:3

"If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?" — Psalms 11:3 (ASV)

The foundations. This word refers to the principles of morality, which are the foundation of society. Symmachus and Jerome translate it as “laws.”

However, the rendering “What could the righteous do?” is doubtful. The image is of a house shattered by an earthquake ; in such a case, how can one find safety?

The Septuagint and Vulgate render it as: “Since they have destroyed what you have established, what has the righteous done?” The order of the Hebrew words seems to support this rendering: “While morality has been overthrown, the righteous what has he done?”

A suggested emendation, involving only a slight change in the Hebrew letters, would, however, produce a far better sense: “If the foundations be destroyed, what will become of the tower, or superstructure?”