Psalms 57
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in thee. Yea, in the shadow of thy wings I will take refuge until calamities be passed by.
God, be merciful to me! Act mercifully toward me because I come to you to protect me. I ask you to protect me [like little birds are protected under their mother’s] wings [MET] until the storm/danger is ended.
2 I will cry to God Most High, to God who performs for me.
God, you who are greater than all other gods, I cry out to you, the one who enables me to do all that you desire.
3 He will send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him who would swallow me up. (Selah) God will send forth his loving kindness and his truth.
You will answer me from heaven and rescue me, but you will cause those who oppress me to be [defeated and] disgraced! (Think about that!) God will [always] faithfully love me and (will be faithful/will do what he promises).
4 My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
[Sometimes] I am surrounded by [my enemies who are like] lions that [kill] humans; [they are like] lions that chew with their teeth [animals that they kill]; but my enemies have spears and arrows, not teeth; and [the false things that] they say [MTY] [hurt people as much as] sharp swords [hurt people] [MET].
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, thy glory above all the earth.
God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory to people all over the earth!
6 They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They have dug a pit before me. They are fallen into the midst of it themselves. (Selah)
[It is as if] [MET, HYP] my enemies spread a net to seize me, and I became very distressed [IDM]. [It is as if] [MET, HYP] they dug a deep pit along the path where I walk, but they themselves fell into it!
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.
God, I have complete confidence [DOU] in you. I will sing to you, and I will praise you while I sing.
8 Awake up, my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp. I myself will awake right early.
I will awaken myself; I will arise before the sun rises and [praise you while I play] my harp or my (lyre/small harp).
9 I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to thee among the nations.
Lord, I will thank you among [all] the people; and I will sing to praise you among [many] ethnic groups,
10 For thy loving kindness is great to the heavens, and thy truth to the skies.
because your faithful love for us is [as great as the distance from the earth] to the sky, and because your (faithfulness/faithfully doing what you promise) is [as great as the distance] up to the clouds [MET].
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, thy glory above all the earth.
God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory [to people] all over the earth!
