Psalms 18
1 Yahweh, I love you, the one who enables me to be strong.
For the Leader. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul; And he said: I love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2 Yahweh is like an [overhanging] rock [DOU, MET] [under which I can hide from my enemies]; he is like a strong fortress, the one who protects me; he protects me like a shield [MET] [protects a soldier]; he is the one to whom I go (for refuge/to be protected/safe), and he defends me by his great power [IDM].
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower.
3 I called out to Yahweh, who deserves to be praised, and he rescued me from my enemies.
Praised, I cry, is the LORD, and I am saved from mine enemies.
4 All around me were dangerous situations in which I might be killed [PRS]; it was as though there were huge waves [MET] that almost crashed on me and killed me.
The cords of Death compassed me, and the floods of Belial assailed me.
5 [It was as though] the place where dead people are had ropes that were wrapped around me, or [it was as though] there was a trap [MET] that would [seize and] kill me. (Sheol h7585)
The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me. (Sheol h7585)
6 But when I was very distressed, I called out to Yahweh, and from his temple he heard me. He listened to me when I cried out [for help].
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God; out of His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came before Him unto His ears.
7 Then the earth quaked/shook strongly [DOU]; the mountains shook very strongly from their centers [DOU] because Yahweh was angry.
Then the earth did shake and quake, the foundations also of the mountains did tremble; they were shaken, because He was wroth.
8 [It was as though] smoke poured out from his nostrils, and [as though] burning coals came out of his mouth.
Smoke arose up in His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth did devour; coals flamed forth from Him.
9 He opened the sky and came down with a black cloud under his feet.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.
10 He flew, riding on the back of a creature that had wings, traveling [fast], blown along by the wind.
And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, He did swoop down upon the wings of the wind.
11 Darkness was all around him [like a blanket] [MET]; dark clouds, full of moisture, covered him [MET].
He made darkness His hiding-place, His pavilion round about Him; darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 Hailstones and flashes of lightning were around him; hail and burning coals fell from the sky.
At the brightness before Him, there passed through His thick clouds hailstones and coals of fire.
13 Then Yahweh [spoke in a loud voice] from the sky, and [his enemies] heard his voice that sounded like thunder.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High gave forth His voice; hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He shot his arrows at them and caused them to scatter; His flashes of lightning caused them to become very confused (OR, to run away).
And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them; and He shot forth lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 The bottom of the ocean became visible, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered, when Yahweh rebuked his enemies when he snorted.
And the channels of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare, at Thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Thy nostrils.
16 [It was as though] he reached down from heaven and grabbed me and pulled me up out of the deep ocean.
He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemies who hated me; they were very strong, with the result that I [could not defeat them].
He delivered me from mine enemy most strong, and from them that hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18 When I (was distressed/had troubles), they attacked me, but Yahweh defended/protected me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was a stay unto me.
19 He led me to a place where I was safe; he rescued me because he was pleased with me.
He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.
20 Yahweh has rewarded me because I do what is right; he has blessed me because I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong).
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.
21 I have obeyed Yahweh’s laws; I have not abandoned him.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 My behavior was directed by his rules; I have not stopped obeying them.
For all His ordinances were before me, and I put not away His statutes from me.
23 He knows that I have not done what is wrong; I have kept myself from sinning.
And I was single-hearted with Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24 So he rewards me because I do what is right; he knows that I [SYN] have not committed sins.
Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.
25 Yahweh, you are faithful to those who faithfully [do what you tell them to do]; you always do what is good/right to those who do what you want them to do.
With the merciful Thou dost show Thyself merciful, with the upright man Thou dost show Thyself upright;
26 You are kind to those who are kind to others, but you act wisely toward those who (act perversely/do bad things).
With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; and with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself subtle.
27 You save those who are humble, but you cause those who are proud to be humiliated/ashamed.
For Thou dost save the afflicted people; but the haughty eyes Thou dost humble.
28 You give light to my [soul/spirit]; you take away the darkness of my soul.
For Thou dost light my lamp; the LORD my God doth lighten my darkness.
29 You enable me to be strong, with the result that I can run and attack a line of enemy soldiers; with your help I can (scale/climb up) the walls [that surround my enemies’ cities].
For by Thee I run upon a troop; and by my God do I scale a wall.
30 Everything that Yahweh my God does is perfect. We can depend on him to do what he promises. He is like a shield [MET] to protect all those who go to him for refuge.
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him.
31 Yahweh is [RHQ] the only one who is God; only he is like an [overhanging] rock [under which we can be safe].
For who is God, save the LORD? And who is a Rock, except our God?
32 God is the one who enables me to be strong and who keeps me safe on the roads that I walk on.
The God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way straight;
33 He enables me to [walk swiftly without stumbling], like a deer walks/runs in the mountains.
Who maketh my feet like hinds', and setteth me upon my high places;
34 He teaches me how to use a strong/metal bow in order that I can use it to fight in battles.
Who traineth my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
35 Yahweh, you protect and save me with your shield; you have made me safe by your power [MTY]. I have become (strong/a great [king]) because you have helped me.
Thou hast also given me Thy shield of salvation, and Thy right hand hath holden me up; and Thy condescension hath made me great.
36 You have cleared the road for me, with the result that now I do not slip/stumble.
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped.
37 I have pursued my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until I had defeated/killed them all.
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them; neither did I turn back till they were consumed.
38 When I strike them, they are not able to get up again; they lie on the ground, defeated.
I have smitten them through, so that they are not able to rise; they are fallen under my feet.
39 You have enabled me to be strong in order that I can fight battles and defeat my enemies.
For Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 You caused my enemies to run away (OR, you enabled me to put my foot on my enemies’ necks [after I captured them and forced them to lie on the ground]); I have gotten rid of all those who hated me.
Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, and I did cut off them that hate me.
41 They called out for someone to help them, but no one saved them.
They cried, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but He answered them not.
42 I pulverize them, with the result that they become like [MET] the dust that the wind [blows away]; I throw them out like [SIM] [people throw] dirt out into the streets.
Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.
43 You enabled me to defeat those who fought against me, and appointed me to be the ruler of [many]; people whom I did not know about previously are now slaves [in my kingdom].
Thou hast delivered me from the contentions of the people; Thou hast made me the head of the nations; a people whom I have not known serve me.
44 When foreigners hear about me, they (cringe/bow low before me) and they obey me.
As soon as they hear of me, they obey me; the sons of the stranger dwindle away before me.
45 They are no longer courageous, and from their forts [where they were hiding] they come [to me] trembling.
The sons of the stranger fade away, and come trembling out of their close places.
46 Yahweh is alive! Praise the one who is like an [overhanging] rock [MET] [under which I am safe] Exalt the God who saves me!
The LORD liveth, and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation;
47 He enables me to get revenge on my enemies; he causes me to defeat nations and to rule over them,
Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, and subdueth peoples under me.
48 and he rescues me from my enemies. He has lifted me up high so that violent men could not reach me [and harm me].
He delivereth me from mine enemies; yea, Thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.
49 So I praise him [and I tell] the nations [the great things that he has done].
Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O LORD, among the nations, and will sing praises unto Thy name.
50 He has enabled me, his king, to powerfully defeat my enemies; he faithfully loves me, David, the one he has chosen [to be king], and he will faithfully love my descendants forever.
Great salvation giveth He to His king; and showeth mercy to His anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore.
