Psalms 61
1O God, hear my cry for help!Pay attention to my prayer!
2 From the most remote place on earth ▼
▼ 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).
I call out to you in my despair. ▼
▼ Heb “while my heart faints.”
Lead me ▼
▼ The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s wish or prayer.
up to an inaccessible rocky summit! ▼▼ Heb “on to a rocky summit [that] is higher than I.”
3 Indeed, ▼
▼ Or “for.”
you are ▼▼ Or “have been.”
my shelter, a strong tower that protects me from the enemy. ▼
▼ Heb “a strong tower from the face of an enemy.”
4 I will be a permanent guest in your home; ▼
▼ 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).
I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. ▼
▼ I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.
(Selah) 5 For you, O God, hear my vows;
you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers. ▼
▼ 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).
6 Give the king long life!
Make his lifetime span several generations! ▼
▼ Heb “days upon days of the king add, his years like generation and generation.”
▼▼ 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.
7 May he reign ▼
▼ Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer.
forever before God! Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him. ▼
▼ Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.”
Then I will sing praises to your name continually, ▼
▼ Or “forever.”
as I fulfill ▼
▼ Or perhaps, “and thereby fulfill.” The preposition with the infinitive construct here indicates an accompanying circumstance.
my vows day after day. Psalm 62
▼▼ Psalm 62. The psalmist expresses his unwavering confidence in God’s justice and in his ability to protect his people.
For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David.
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