Psalms 61:3-4

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)

[61:3]  ¹ tn Or “for.”

[61:3]  ² tn Or “have been.”

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

[61:4]  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).

[61:4]  ⁵ sn I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.