Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
Psalms 61:1-8 -Two strophes separated by Selah. Prayer in extreme distress; confidence of safety under God's wings (Psalms 61:1-4); ground of confidence, namely, God has promised him an abiding throne (2 Samuel 7:1-29); let mercy and truth preserve him, that so he may sing praise forever (Psalms 61:5-8). The occasion was probably (cf. Psalms 61:2) when he was beyond Jordan in Absalom's rebellion.
Title. - Upon Neginah - Hebrew, nªgiynat (H5058); a different form from Nªginowt, Psalms 4:1-8 and Psalms 6:1-10, titles. The construct form requires the sense to be 'on David's instrumental music.' Compare Habakkuk 3:19, "To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." Also Amos 6:5, "invent instruments of music like David." At the same time the "of David" implies its authorship by him.
Hear my cry, O God.