Psalms 61

Hear me when I cry out, God. Pay attention to my prayer.

1Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2From a place far away I call out to you, whenever my heart grows weak. Lead me to the rock that stands higher than I can reach.

2From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Note"The end of the earth" was a way of saying "as far from here as it is possible to be", in this case, far from the sanctuary where the speaker would normally pray. The rock is a high crag: in this landscape a fugitive climbed one to get out of reach of pursuers, so a rock "higher than I" is safety the speaker cannot climb to unaided.

3You have been my safe place, a strong tower that keeps the enemy away.

3For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4Let me live in your tent forever. Let me find safety in the shelter of your wings. Selah

4I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

NoteThe tent is the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that housed God's presence before the temple was built; to "live in" it means to be a permanent guest of God rather than a visitor. The wings are a bird's, sheltering its young; the same image was also used of the winged figures whose outstretched wings covered the ark inside the sanctuary. "Selah" appears throughout the Psalms and its meaning is lost. It is generally taken as a direction to the musicians (a pause, or a swell in the accompaniment) and is left untranslated because no one knows what it instructed.

5You have heard the promises I made to you, God. You have given me what belongs to those who honor your name.

5For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

NoteA vow was a formal promise to God, usually of a sacrifice, a gift to the sanctuary, or an act of public thanks, made in exchange for rescue from trouble; the promise came due once the rescue arrived. The "heritage" is inheritance language: each Israelite family held an allotted share of the land that passed down the generations and could not be permanently lost, so "what belongs to those who honor your name" means a secure, granted portion. To "fear" God's name means to hold it in awe and give it its due, not to be frightened.

6Add more days to the king's life. Let his years stretch out over many generations.

6Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.

NoteThe psalm turns here from "I" to a prayer for the king, spoken about him in the third person. Prayers for a king's long life were standard court language across the ancient Near East; "years stretching over many generations" is the formula, not a literal expectation.

7Let him stay in God's presence forever. Send out your faithful love and your truth to guard him.

7He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

Note"Mercy and truth" translates two Hebrew words often paired: loyal, committed love that keeps faith with a person, and dependability, being solid, someone whose word holds. Here they are spoken of as if they were two attendants God could assign to stand guard over the king.

8Then I will sing praise to your name always, and I will keep the promises I made, day after day.

8So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

NoteVows were paid off publicly, often with a song of thanks at the sanctuary, so singing praise and keeping the promises are the same act described twice.