Psalms 61:2-8

61:2 From the most remote place on earth ¹ 

I call out to you in my despair. ² 

Lead me ³  up to an inaccessible rocky summit! ⁴ 

61:3 Indeed, ⁵  you are ⁶  my shelter,

a strong tower that protects me from the enemy. ⁷ 

61:4 I will be a permanent guest in your home; ⁸ 

I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. ⁹  (Selah)

61:5 For you, O God, hear my vows;

you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers. ¹⁰ 

61:6 Give the king long life!

Make his lifetime span several generations! ¹¹ 

61:7 May he reign ¹²  forever before God!

Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him. ¹³ 

61:8 Then I will sing praises to your name continually, ¹⁴ 

as I fulfill ¹⁵  my vows day after day.

[61:2]  ¹ 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).

[61:2]  ² tn Heb “while my heart faints.”

[61:2]  ³ tn The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s wish or prayer.

[61:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “on to a rocky summit [that] is higher than I.”

[61:3]  ⁵ tn Or “for.”

[61:3]  ⁶ tn Or “have been.”

[61:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “a strong tower from the face of an enemy.”

[61:4]  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).

[61:4]  ¹⁰ sn I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.

[61:5]  ¹³ 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).

[61:6]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “days upon days of the king add, his years like generation and generation.”

[61:7]  ²¹ tn Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer.

[61:7]  ²² tn Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.”

[61:8]  ²⁵ tn Or “forever.”

[61:8]  ²⁶ tn Or perhaps, “and thereby fulfill.” The preposition with the infinitive construct here indicates an accompanying circumstance.