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Psalm 61
Lexham English Bible

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.
2 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.
3 For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower from the enemy.
4 Let me reside in your tent forever.
Let me take refuge under the covering of your wings. Selah
5 For you, O God, you have heard my vows.
You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
6 You will add days to the days of the king,
his years like those of many generations.[d]
7 May he live[e] forever in the presence of God.
Appoint loyal love and faithfulness to preserve him.
8 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”
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Psalm 61
New English Translation

Psalm 61[a]

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

61 O God, hear my cry for help.
Pay attention to my prayer.
2 From the remotest place on earth[b]
I call out to you in my despair.[c]
Lead me[d] up to a rocky summit where I can be safe.[e]
3 Indeed,[f] you are[g] my shelter,
a strong tower that protects me from the enemy.[h]
4 I will be a permanent guest in your home;[i]
I will find shelter in the protection of your wings.[j] (Selah)
5 For you, O God, hear my vows;
you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers.[k]
6 Give the king long life.
Make his lifetime span several generations.[l]
7 May he reign[m] forever before God.
Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him.[n]
8 Then I will sing praises to your name continually,[o]
as I fulfill[p] my vows day after day.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 61:1 sn Psalm 61. The psalmist cries out for help and expresses his confidence that God will protect him.
  2. Psalm 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. Psalm 61:2 tn Heb “while my heart faints.”
  4. Psalm 61:2 tn The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s wish or prayer.
  5. Psalm 61:2 tn Heb “on to a rocky summit [that] is higher than I.”
  6. Psalm 61:3 tn Or “for.”
  7. Psalm 61:3 tn Or “have been.”
  8. Psalm 61:3 tn Heb “a strong tower from the face of an enemy.”
  9. Psalm 61:4 tn Heb “I will live as a resident foreigner 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. Psalm 61:4 sn I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.
  11. Psalm 61:5 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. Psalm 61:6 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. Psalm 61:7 tn Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer.
  14. Psalm 61:7 tn Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.”
  15. Psalm 61:8 tn Or “forever.”
  16. Psalm 61:8 tn Or perhaps, “and thereby fulfill.” The preposition with the infinitive construct here indicates an accompanying circumstance.
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