[61:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 61. The psalmist cries out for help and expresses his confidence that God will protect him.

[61:2]  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).

[61:2]  ³ tn Heb “while my heart faints.”

[61:2]  ⁴ tn The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s wish or prayer.

[61:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “on to a rocky summit [that] is higher than I.”

[61:3]  ⁶ tn Or “for.”

[61:3]  ⁷ tn Or “have been.”

[61:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “a strong tower from the face of an enemy.”

[61:4]  ⁹ 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).

[61:4]  ¹⁰ sn I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. The metaphor compares God to a protective mother bird.

[61:5]  ¹¹ 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).

[61:6]  ¹² tn Heb “days upon days of the king add, his years like generation and generation.”

[61:6]  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.

[61:7]  ¹³ tn Heb “sit [enthroned].” The prefixed verbal form is understood as a jussive here, expressing the psalmist’s prayer.

[61:7]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “loyal love and faithfulness appoint, let them protect him.”

[61:8]  ¹⁵ tn Or “forever.”

[61:8]  ¹⁶ tn Or perhaps, “and thereby fulfill.” The preposition with the infinitive construct here indicates an accompanying circumstance.