Psalms 57
1 Unto the end. May you not destroy. Of David, with the inscription of a title, when he fled from Saul into a cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me. For my soul trusts in you. And I will hope in the shadow of your wings, until iniquity passes away.
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 out to God Most High, to God who has been kind to 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 sent from heaven and freed me. He has surrendered into disgrace those who trampled me. God has sent his mercy 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 And he has rescued my soul from the midst of the young lions. I slept troubled. The sons of men: their teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongue is 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 exalted above the heavens, O God, and your 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 prepared a snare for my feet, and they bowed down my soul. They dug a pit before my face, yet they have fallen into it.
[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 prepared, O God, my heart is prepared. I will sing, and I will compose a psalm.
God, I have complete confidence [DOU] in you. I will sing to you, and I will praise you while I sing.
8 Rise up, my glory. Rise up, psaltery and harp. I will arise in early morning.
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 confess to you, O Lord, among the peoples. I will compose a psalm to you 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 your mercy has been magnified, even to the heavens, and your truth, even to the clouds.
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 exalted above the heavens, O God, and your 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!
