The psalmist wishes that he could fly far away, like a dove, and be out of the reach of his pursuers (verses 6-7). The Hebrew text in verses 6-8 has the psalmist quoting himself (see Revised Standard Version); Good News Translation here, as elsewhere, has not represented this stylistic device.

In verse 6a some languages may find it better to say “I wish I could fly like a dove.” To say “Oh that I had the wings of a dove!” (New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, New English Bible) may sound strange, since a dove’s wings could hardly enable a man to fly very far. The expression O that I had wings like a dove may in its literal form only imply that one is dissatisfied with other wings. If misunderstandings are likely to arise, it may be better to say, for example, “I wish I could fly” or “I wish I could escape.”

In verse 7a the verbal phrase means “to be very far away”; see the same verb used in 22.1, “Why art thou so far…?” New English Bible has “escape far away,” others have “flee far away,” both of which are better than Revised Standard Version wander, which implies movement without much direction or purpose.

In verse 7b lodge translates a verb which means “spend the night” (see its use in 25.13; 30.5).

For Selah see 3.2.

Then, changing the figure (verse 8), the psalmist wishes he could find a shelter where he would be safe from the raging wind and the tempest, a figure for the hatred and fury of his enemies. The word translated raging occurs only here in the Old Testament.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .