NETBible KJV GRK-HEB XRef Names Arts Hymns

  Discovery Box

Psalms 61:1-8

Context
Psalm 61 1 

For the music director; to be played on a stringed instrument; written by David.

61:1 O God, hear my cry for help!

Pay attention to my prayer!

61:2 From the most remote place on earth 2 

I call out to you in my despair. 3 

Lead me 4  up to an inaccessible rocky summit! 5 

61:3 Indeed, 6  you are 7  my shelter,

a strong tower that protects me from the enemy. 8 

61:4 I will be a permanent guest in your home; 9 

I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. 10  (Selah)

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

you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers. 11 

61:6 Give the king long life!

Make his lifetime span several generations! 12 

61:7 May he reign 13  forever before God!

Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him. 14 

61:8 Then I will sing praises to your name continually, 15 

as I fulfill 16  my vows day after day.

Drag to resizeDrag to resize

[61:1]  1 sn Psalm 61. The psalmist cries out for help and expresses his confidence that God will protect him.

[61:2]  2 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]  3 tn Heb “while my heart faints.”

[61:2]  4 tn The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s wish or prayer.

[61:2]  5 tn Heb “on to a rocky summit [that] is higher than I.”

[61:3]  6 tn Or “for.”

[61:3]  7 tn Or “have been.”

[61:3]  8 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]  11 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]  12 tn Heb “days upon days of the king add, his years like generation and generation.”

[61:7]  13 tn Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer.

[61:7]  14 tn Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.”

[61:8]  15 tn Or “forever.”

[61:8]  16 tn Or perhaps, “and thereby fulfill.” The preposition with the infinitive construct here indicates an accompanying circumstance.



created in 0.02 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA