61:3 Indeed, 1 you are 2 my shelter,
a strong tower that protects me from the enemy. 3
61:4 I will be a permanent guest in your home; 4
I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. 5 (Selah)
61:5 For you, O God, hear my vows;
you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers. 6
61:6 Give the king long life!
Make his lifetime span several generations! 7
61:7 May he reign 8 forever before God!
Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him. 9
61:8 Then I will sing praises to your name continually, 10
as I fulfill 11 my vows day after day.
1 tn Or “for.”
2 tn Or “have been.”
3 tn Heb “a strong tower from the face of an enemy.”
4 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).
5 sn I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.
6 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).
7 tn Heb “days upon days of the king add, his years like generation and generation.”
8 tn Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer.
9 tn Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.”
10 tn Or “forever.”
11 tn Or perhaps, “and thereby fulfill.” The preposition with the infinitive construct here indicates an accompanying circumstance.