Psalms 57
1 For the music director. According to “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm (miktam) of David concerning the time he fled from Saul and hid in the cave. Please be kind to me, God! Be kind to me because I come to you for protection. I will shelter under the shadow of your wings until the danger is past.
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 cry out for help to God Most High, to God who vindicates 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 From heaven he sends his help, and he saves me. He defeats those who persecute me. (Selah) God sends me his unfailing love, showing he is completely trustworthy.
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 I am surrounded by man-eating lions—I am forced to live with them! Their teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongues are swords.
[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 God, your greatness is above the highest heavens; and your glory covers the whole earth!
God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory to people all over the earth!
6 They set a trap to catch me. I was so depressed. They dug a pit on my path but they were the ones who fell into it. (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 I have confidence in you, God, I have confidence in you. I will sing songs of praise to you.
God, I have complete confidence [DOU] in you. I will sing to you, and I will praise you while I sing.
8 I say to myself, “Wake up!” Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn!
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 thank you among the peoples, Lord; I will sing your praises among the nations.
Lord, I will thank you among [all] the people; and I will sing to praise you among [many] ethnic groups,
10 Your faithful love reaches to the heavens; your trustworthiness 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 God, your greatness is above the highest heavens; and your glory covers the whole earth!
God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory [to people] all over the earth!
