Psalms 57
1 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.
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.
2 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.
I will cry to God most high; the God who has benefited me. (Pause)
3 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).
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;
4 [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].
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.
5 God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory to people all over the earth!
Be you exalted, O God, above the heavens; and your glory above all the earth.
6 [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!
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)
7 God, I have complete confidence [DOU] in you. I will sing to you, and I will praise you while I sing.
My heart, O God, [is] ready, my heart [is] ready: I will sing, yes will sing psalms.
8 I will awaken myself; I will arise before the sun rises and [praise you while I play] my harp or my (lyre/small harp).
Awake, my glory; awake, lute and harp: I will awake early.
9 Lord, I will thank you among [all] the people; and I will sing to praise you among [many] ethnic groups,
O Lord, I will give thanks to you among the nations: I will sing to you among the Gentiles.
10 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].
For your mercy has been magnified even to the heavens, and your truth to the clouds.
11 God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory [to people] all over the earth!
Be you exalted, O God, above the heavens; and your glory above all the earth.
