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