Psalms 57
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
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 unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things 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 shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. (Selah) God shall send forth 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 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that 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; let thy glory be 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 digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen 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 and give praise.
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 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 praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto 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 mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto 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 thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory [to people] all over the earth!
