1 Heb “my life has taken shelter.” The Hebrew perfect verbal form probably refers here to a completed action with continuing results.
2 In the shadow of your wings. The metaphor likens God to a protective mother bird (see also Pss 17:8; 36:7).
3 Heb “to God Most High.” The divine title “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן, ’elyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Ps 47:2.
4 Or “avenges in favor of.”
5 Heb “may he send from heaven and deliver me.” The prefixed verbal forms are understood as jussives expressing the psalmist’s prayer. The second verb, which has a vav (ו) conjunctive prefixed to it, probably indicates purpose. Another option is to take the forms as imperfects expressing confidence, “he will send from heaven and deliver me” (cf. ).
6 Heb “he hurls insults, one who crushes me.” The translation assumes that this line identifies those from whom the psalmist seeks deliverance. (The singular is representative; the psalmist is surrounded by enemies, see v. 4.) Another option is to understand God as the subject of the verb חָרַף (kharaf), which could then be taken as a homonym of the more common root חָרַף (“insult”) meaning “confuse.” In this case “one who crushes me” is the object of the verb. One might translate, “he [God] confuses my enemies.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

till the storms of destruction pass by.

I cry out to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

He will send from heaven and save me;

he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

for in you I take refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed.

I cry out to God Most High,

to God, who vindicates me.

He sends from heaven and saves me,

rebuking those who hotly pursue me—

God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,

for I take refuge in you.

I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings

until danger passes.

I call to God Most High,

to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

He reaches down from heaven and saves me,

challenging the one who tramples me.

Selah

God sends his faithful love and truth.

NLTNew Living Translation

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!

I look to you for protection.

I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings

until the danger passes by.

I cry out to God Most High,

to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

He will send help from heaven to rescue me,

disgracing those who hound me.

Interlude

My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,

because in you my soul takes refuge.

In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge

until destruction passes by.

I will call to God Most High,

to God who accomplishes things concerning me.

He will send from heaven and save me;

he will reproach the one who tramples me. Selah

God will send his loyal love and his faithfulness.

KJV 1900King James Version

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me:

For my soul trusteth in thee:

Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,

Until these calamities be overpast.

I will cry unto God most high;

Unto God that performeth all things for me.

He shall send from heaven, and save me

From the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah.

God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

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