Psalms 57
1 For the end. Destroy not: by David, for a memorial, when he fled from the presence of Saul to the cave. Have mercy, upon me, O God, have mercy upon me: for my soul has trusted in you: and in the shadow of your wings will I hope, until the iniquity have passed 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 to God most high; the God who has benefited me. (Pause)
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 saved me; he gave to reproach them that trampled on me: God has sent 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 and he has delivered my soul from the midst of [lions']whelps: I lay down to sleep, [though] troubled. [As for] the sons of men, their teeth are arms and [missile] weapons, 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 you exalted, O God, above the heavens; 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 have prepared snares for my feet, and have bowed down my soul: they have dug a pit before my face, and fallen into it [themselves]. (Pause)
[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, O God, [is] ready, my heart [is] ready: I will sing, yes will sing psalms.
God, I have complete confidence [DOU] in you. I will sing to you, and I will praise you while I sing.
8 Awake, my glory; awake, lute and harp: I 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 O Lord, I will give thanks to you among the nations: I will sing to you among the Gentiles.
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 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 you exalted, O God, above the heavens; 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!
