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Psalm 61

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

O God, listen to my cry!
    Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth,
    I cry to you for help
    when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
    for you are my safe refuge,
    a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
    safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude

For you have heard my vows, O God.
    You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.
Add many years to the life of the king!
    May his years span the generations!
May he reign under God’s protection forever.
    May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.
Then I will sing praises to your name forever
    as I fulfill my vows each day.

Confidence in God’s Protection

For the music director, upon stringed instruments.[a] Of David.[b]

61 Hear, O God, my cry;
attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth[c] I call to you
when my heart grows faint.
You will lead me to a rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower from the enemy.
Let me reside in your tent forever.
Let me take refuge under the covering of your wings. Selah
For you, O God, you have heard my vows.
You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
You will add days to the days of the king,
his years like those of many generations.[d]
May he live[e] forever in the presence of God.
Appoint loyal love and faithfulness to preserve him.
So I will sing the praise of your name forever,
that I may fulfill[f] my vows daily.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 61:1 Reading with many Hebrew manuscripts and several translations
  2. Psalm 61:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  3. Psalm 61:2 Or “the far reaches of the land”
  4. Psalm 61:6 Literally “a generation and a generation”
  5. Psalm 61:7 Or “be enthroned”
  6. Psalm 61:8 Or “pay”
  7. Psalm 61:8 Literally “day, day”