Psalms 61:4-8

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.

[61:4]  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).

[61:4]  ² sn I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.

[61:5]  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).

[61:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “days upon days of the king add, his years like generation and generation.”

[61:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer.

[61:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.”

[61:8]  ⁷ tn Or “forever.”

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