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.
To the Overseer. — 'Destroy not.' — A secret treasure of David, in his fleeing from the face of Saul into a cave. Favour me, O God, favour me, For in Thee is my soul trusting, And in the shadow of Thy wings I trust, Until the calamities pass over.
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 call to God Most High, To God [who] is perfecting 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 sendeth from the heaven, and saveth me, He reproached — who is panting after me. (Selah) God sendeth forth His kindness 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] in the midst of lions, I lie down [among] flames — sons of men, Their teeth [are] a spear 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 above the heavens, O God, Above all the earth Thine honour.
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!
A net they have prepared for my steps, Bowed down hath my soul, They have digged before me a pit, They have fallen into its midst. (Selah)
7 God, I have complete confidence [DOU] in you. I will sing to you, and I will praise you while I sing.
Prepared is my heart, O God, Prepared is my heart, I sing and praise.
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, mine honour, awake, psaltery and harp, I awake the morning dawn.
9 Lord, I will thank you among [all] the people; and I will sing to praise you among [many] ethnic groups,
I thank Thee among the peoples, O Lord, I praise 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 great unto the heavens [is] Thy kindness, And unto the clouds Thy truth.
11 God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory [to people] all over the earth!
Be thou exalted above the heavens, O God. Above all the earth Thine honour!
