☰ Psalms 61
61
1  For the music director; to be played on a stringed instrument; written by David.
O God, hear my cry for help!
Pay attention to my prayer!
2  From the most remote place on earth1
I call out to you in my despair.2
Lead me3 up to an inaccessible rocky summit!4
3  Indeed,5 you are6 my shelter,
a strong tower that protects me from the enemy.7
4  I will be a permanent guest in your home;8
I will find shelter in the protection of your wings.9 (Selah)
5  For you, O God, hear my vows;
you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers.10
6  Give the king long life!
Make his lifetime span several generations!11
7  May he reign12 forever before God!
Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him.13
8  Then I will sing praises to your name continually,14
as I fulfill15 my vows day after day. 16
1 61:2 sn: Psalm 61. The psalmist cries out for help and expresses his confidence that God will protect him. 2 61:2 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). 3 61:2 tn: Heb “while my heart faints.” 4 61:2 tn: The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s wish or prayer. 5 61:3 tn: Heb “on to a rocky summit [that] is higher than I.” 6 61:3 tn: Or “for.” 7 61:3 tn: Or “have been.” 8 61:4 tn: Heb “a strong tower from the face of an enemy.” 9 61:4 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). 10 61:5 sn: I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird. 11 61:6 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). 12 61:7 tn: Heb “days upon days of the king add, his years like generation and generation.” sn: It is not certain if the (royal) psalmist is referring to himself in the third person in this verse, or if an exile is praying on behalf of the king. 13 61:7 tn: Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer. 14 61:8 tn: Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.” 15 61:8 tn: Or “forever.” 16 61:8 tn: Or perhaps, “and thereby fulfill.” The preposition with the infinitive construct here indicates an accompanying circumstance.
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