Verse 1 is a single line without parallelism. However, Yahweh is called my strength, and the parallel lines which follow in verse 2 go on to make concrete images of my strength.

The verb translated love occurs rarely in Psalms (and infrequently elsewhere); it has more the idea of being compassionate, merciful. But in this context the meaning is as ancient versions and modern translations have rendered it, love. When one translates I love thee, special caution must be taken to avoid a meaning such as “I want to possess you.” In some languages the term for love has little to do with feelings of mercy or compassion. The latter emotions are frequently expressed in idiomatic phrases; for example, “my stomach moves for you,” “my heart is warm for you,” “my kidneys are for you,” and many other similar expressions.

Yahweh is the psalmist’s strength, either as the source of the psalmist’s power, or as his “defender.” My strength as a description of the LORD must often be recast, because a possessed quality can sometimes only be thought of as belonging to the one speaking to God. Therefore it is often necessary to make my strength into a verb phrase; for example, “you are the one who strengthens me” or “you are the one who protects me.”

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 .