Psalms 61–8
Psalm 61:1-8
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Psa.61.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- נגינת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.6:1 (verbal): Like Ps 61:1, this superscription contains a musical direction with 'על־' (here 'על־הכּנור'), linking both to liturgical/performative instructions for the congregation or musicians.
- Ps.3:1 (structural): Both verses function as superscriptions attributing the psalm to David ('מזמור לדוד'), showing the same authorial/genre formula found in Ps 61:1.
- Ps.59:1 (structural): This heading likewise begins with 'למנצח' and attributes the psalm to David, paralleling the combined role of musical direction and Davidic authorship in Ps 61:1.
- Ps.101:1 (structural): Another example of a psalm superscription ('מזמור לדוד')—paralleling Ps 61:1’s function of identifying both the musical/performative context and Davidic origin.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the choirmaster. For the director of stringed instruments. A michtam of David.
- To the choirmaster. Upon the stringed instruments. Of David.
Psa.61.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- שמעה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רנתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+1,sg
- הקשיבה: VERB,hiph,impv,2,_,sg
- תפלתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss1s
Parallels
- Psalm 102:1 (verbal): Almost identical petition: 'Hear my prayer, O LORD; and let my cry come unto thee'—direct verbal parallel to 'Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.'
- Psalm 17:6 (verbal): Close wording: 'I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me: incline thine ear unto me'—same plea for God to hear and incline His ear.
- Psalm 18:6 (verbal): Similar language of crying out in distress: 'In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God,' emphasizing urgent appeal to God to listen.
- Psalm 4:1 (verbal): 'Hear me when I call, O God'—another direct petition for God to hear the psalmist's cry, echoing the same request.
- Psalm 86:7 (thematic): Thematic parallel: 'In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me'—focus on calling to God in trouble with expectation that He will hear.
Alternative generated candidates
- Hear, O God, my cry; give ear to my prayer.
- Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.
Psa.61.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- מקצה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אליך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- אקרא: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- בעטף: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- בצור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירום: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- ממני: PREP,suff,1,m,sg
- תנחני: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg,obj-1cs
Parallels
- Ps.18.2 (verbal): Uses the same 'rock' metaphor (Heb. tsur) for God as protector—'The LORD is my rock, my fortress...'—paralleling 'lead me to the rock that is higher than I.'
- Ps.71.3 (verbal): Directly echoes the petition for God as a secure refuge: 'Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may continually come,' closely matching the request to be brought to a protective rock.
- Ps.62.2 (verbal): Affirms the same theological idea in concise language: 'He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress,' resonating with Psalm 61's appeal to God as a higher rock and refuge.
- Ps.46.1 (thematic): Shares the broader theme of God as refuge in times of distress—'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble'—paralleling the plea for deliverance when the heart is faint.
Alternative generated candidates
- From the ends of the earth I call to you; when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
- From the ends of the earth I call to you; when my heart grows faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psa.61.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- היית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- מחסה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- מגדל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עז: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מפני: PREP
- אויב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Proverbs 18:10 (verbal): Speaks of the 'name of the LORD' as a 'strong tower' into which the righteous run—direct lexical and image parallel to 'strong tower' as refuge in Ps 61:4.
- Psalm 91:2 (verbal): Declares 'I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress,' echoing the same refuge/fortress vocabulary and trust motif of Ps 61:4.
- Psalm 18:2 (thematic): Portrays God as rock, fortress and deliverer protecting the psalmist from enemies—a close thematic parallel of divine protection and refuge.
- Nahum 1:7 (thematic): Describes the LORD as a 'stronghold' and a refuge in time of trouble for those who take refuge in him, resonating with Ps 61:4's refuge imagery.
- 2 Samuel 22:3 (structural): Part of David's victory-song language portraying God as rock/fortress/deliverer; structurally parallels the same motif of God as protective refuge against enemies found in Ps 61:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- For you have been to me a refuge— a strong tower against the enemy.
- For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
Psa.61.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אגורה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- באהלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+2,m,sg
- עולמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אחסה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- בסתר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כנפיך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Psalm 27:5 (verbal): Speaks of God hiding the psalmist in His tabernacle/secret place—language and idea of dwelling in God's tent and finding refuge echo Psalm 61:5's 'I will abide in your tent... shelter of your wings.'
- Psalm 91:1 (verbal): Uses the expression 'whoever dwells in the secret place of the Most High' and the image of divine protection—parallels the motif of abiding in God's shelter and under His wings.
- Psalm 57:1 (verbal): Explicitly declares taking refuge 'in the shadow of your wings,' directly echoing the wing-shelter metaphor of Psalm 61:5.
- Psalm 63:7 (verbal): Contains the phrase 'in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice,' closely related language and the theme of finding protection and joy under God's wings.
- Luke 13:34 (allusion): Jesus' image of desiring to gather people 'as a hen gathers her brood under her wings' draws on the same Old Testament motif of God's protective wings as refuge.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will abide in your tent forever; I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Selah.
- I will dwell in your tent forever; I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.
Psa.61.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שמעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לנדרי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+1,sg
- נתת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- ירשת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- יראי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- שמך: NOUN,m,sg,cs,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 22:25 (verbal): Speaks of paying vows and praising God in the presence of those who fear him — links the ideas of vows being acknowledged and the community of those who fear God's name.
- Psalm 116:14, 17-18 (verbal): Explicit language about paying vows to the LORD and offering thanksgiving — parallels 'You have heard my vows' and the act of fulfilling vows in gratitude to God.
- Psalm 16:5-6 (thematic): Describes the LORD as the portion and speaks of a 'goodly heritage' — parallels the theme of God granting an inheritance/heritage to the faithful.
- Psalm 37:18-22 (thematic): Affirms that the LORD knows the days of the upright and that their inheritance endures — relates to the promise of an inheritance for those who fear or are faithful to God.
Alternative generated candidates
- For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given the heritage to those who fear your name.
- For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Psa.61.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- ימי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- תוסיף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- שנותיו: NOUN,f,pl,cons,3ms
- כמו: PREP
- דר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ודר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Proverbs 9:11 (verbal): Uses almost identical language—'I will multiply your days, and add to your years'—echoing Psalm 61:7's petition to lengthen the king's years.
- Proverbs 3:2 (verbal): Promises 'length of days' and 'long life' as a blessing, thematically similar to the wish that the king's years be increased.
- 2 Samuel 7:16 (allusion): Part of the Davidic covenant ('your house and your kingdom shall endure before me for ever'), providing the royal-theological background for prayers that a king's years be established 'generation to generation.'
- Psalm 89:36-37 (thematic): Speaks of a king's line and throne enduring 'for ever' and 'to all generations,' paralleling Psalm 61:7's desire that the king's years be added 'like generation to generation.'
Alternative generated candidates
- May you add days to the days of the king; may his years be like generation upon generation.
- May you lengthen the king's days; may his years endure from generation to generation.
Psa.61.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ישב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חסד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואמת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- ינצרהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,+obj3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 100:5 (verbal): Uses the paired terms 'steadfast love' (חסד) and 'faithfulness' (אמת) and stresses their enduring character—echoing the psalm's appeal to חסד ואמת as preserving/defining God's relation to his people.
- Psalm 117:2 (verbal): Directly pairs mercy/steadfast love and truth/faithfulness (חסד ואמת) and affirms their endurance forever—closely parallels the language and theological emphasis of Ps 61:8.
- Psalm 85:11 (Heb. 85:10) (thematic): Declares that 'mercy and truth have met' (חסד ואמת נפגשו), reflecting the theological motif of חסד ואמת in covenantal and liturgical contexts similar to Ps 61:8.
- Psalm 89:1–2 (thematic): Combines the themes of singing God's praise 'forever' and declaring his faithfulness—paralleling Ps 61:8's devotion (praise/vows) alongside the stress on God's steadfast love and truth.
- Psalm 23:6 (thematic): Speaks of 'goodness and mercy' (often rendered as goodness and חסד) following the believer all their days; thematically resonates with Ps 61:8's confidence in continual divine steadfast love and preservation.
Alternative generated candidates
- May he dwell forever before God; let steadfast love and faithfulness preserve him.
- May he dwell forever before God; let steadfast love and truth preserve him.
To the choirmaster. On a stringed instrument. Of David.
Hear, O God, my cry; give ear to my prayer.
From the farthest end of the earth I call to you; when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
I will dwell in your tent for ever; I will take refuge under the cover of your wings. Selah.
For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given an inheritance to those who fear your name.
May you lengthen the days of the king; may his years endure like generation upon generation.
May he sit for ever before God; let steadfast love and faithfulness watch over him.