Psalms 57
1 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.
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 call to God Most High, To God [who] is perfecting 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 sendeth from the heaven, and saveth me, He reproached — who is panting after me. (Selah) God sendeth forth His kindness 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] 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.
[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 above the heavens, O God, Above all the earth Thine honour.
God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory to people all over the earth!
6 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)
[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 Prepared is my heart, O God, Prepared is my heart, I sing and praise.
God, I have complete confidence [DOU] in you. I will sing to you, and I will praise you while I sing.
8 Awake, mine honour, awake, psaltery and harp, I awake the morning dawn.
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 thank Thee among the peoples, O Lord, I praise 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 great unto the heavens [is] Thy kindness, And unto the clouds Thy truth.
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 above the heavens, O God. Above all the earth Thine honour!
God, show in the heavens that you are very great! And show your glory [to people] all over the earth!
