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 Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David: Michtam: when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul taketh refuge in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, until [these] calamities be overpast.
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 unto God Most High; unto God that performeth [all things] for me.
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 shall send from heaven, and save me, [when] he that would swallow me up reproacheth; (Selah) God shall send 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].
My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, 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 thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; [let] thy glory [be] 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 a net for my steps; thy soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me; they are fallen into the midst thereof themselves. (Selah)
7 God, I have complete confidence [DOU] in you. I will sing to you, and I will praise you while I sing.
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.
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 up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early.
9 Lord, I will thank you among [all] the people; and I will sing to praise you among [many] ethnic groups,
I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
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 thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the skies.
11 God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory [to people] all over the earth!
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; [let] thy glory [be] above all the earth.
