Now we come to a rough patch, and some dictionary work will be required. The numbers, prefixed by H, are the numbers in Strong's Hebrew dictionary.
lead me to a rock 6697 (or refuge) that is higher than myself.
For you have been a shelter 4268, fr 2620 to me,
a strong tower against the enemy.
I will abide 1481 in your tent (or dwelling) 168 forever:
I will take refuge 2620 in the cover 5643 of your wings. Selah 5542. (Pause.)
lead me to a refuge that is higher than myself.
For you have been a shelter to me,
a tower of strength against the enemy.
I will abide in your dwelling forever:
I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
[I have decided to represent "selah," which means "pause," by skipping a space.]
For you, O God, have heard my prayer:
you have given me the heritage
of those who revere 3373 your name.
You will add to the king's days,
and make his years as generations.
He shall abide before God forever.
Pour forth 4487 mercy and truth,
that they may watch over 5341 him.
So I will sing 2167 praise to your name forever 5703,
that I may daily fulfill 7999 my vows 5088.
[The literal meaning of H3373 is "to fear," but it also means to "morally revere." I think it is about time that we adopted the secondary meaning in this context. H4487 literally means to "weigh out," or figuratively to "allot." The assumption here (not mine, but of the editors of Strong's) is that the mysterious "מַן" of the Masoretic text is missing a final "h" ("ה") and should be "מנה," an assumption that fits and I agree with it. But "weigh out" sounds like "way out" to contemporary ears. I have therefore changed it to "pour forth," by analogy with "pour forth your spirit into our hearts." I have kept the other words within the boundaries of the extended definitions on the Strong's dictionary.]
So let's put it all together:
Psalm 61
Hear my petition, O God,
give ear to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is in darkness:
lead me to a refuge that is higher than myself.
For you have been a shelter to me,
a tower of strength against the enemy.
I will abide in your dwelling forever:
I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
For you, O God, have heard my prayer:
you have given me the heritage
of those who revere your name.
You will add to the king's days,
and make his years as generations.
He shall abide before God forever.
Pour forth mercy and truth,
that they may watch over him.
So I will sing praise to your name forever,
that I may daily fulfill my vows.
