For the music director; to be played on a stringed instrument; written by David.
61:1 O God, hear my cry for help!
Pay attention to my prayer!
61:2 From the most remote place on earth 2
I call out to you in my despair. 3
Lead me 4 up to an inaccessible rocky summit! 5
61:3 Indeed, 6 you are 7 my shelter,
a strong tower that protects me from the enemy. 8
61:4 I will be a permanent guest in your home; 9
I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. 10 (Selah)
61:5 For you, O God, hear my vows;
you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers. 11
61:6 Give the king long life!
Make his lifetime span several generations! 12
61:7 May he reign 13 forever before God!
Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him. 14
1 sn Psalm 61. The psalmist cries out for help and expresses his confidence that God will protect him.
2 tn Heb “from the end of the earth.” This may indicate (1) the psalmist is exiled in a distant land, or (2) it may be hyperbolic (the psalmist feels alienated from God’s presence, as if he were in a distant land).
3 tn Heb “while my heart faints.”
4 tn The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s wish or prayer.
5 tn Heb “on to a rocky summit [that] is higher than I.”
6 tn Or “for.”
7 tn Or “have been.”
8 tn Heb “a strong tower from the face of an enemy.”
9 tn Heb “I will live as a resident alien in your tent permanently.” The cohortative is understood here as indicating resolve. Another option is to take it as expressing a request, “please let me live” (cf. NASB, NRSV).
10 sn I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.
11 tn Heb “you grant the inheritance of those who fear your name.” “Inheritance” is normally used of land which is granted as an inheritance; here it refers metaphorically to the blessings granted God’s loyal followers. To “fear” God’s name means to have a healthy respect for his revealed reputation which in turn motivates one to obey God’s commands (see Ps 86:11).
12 tn Heb “days upon days of the king add, his years like generation and generation.”
13 tn Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer.
14 tn Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.”