Psalms 18
1 Yahweh, I love you, the one who enables me to be strong.
I will love you, 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 strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I called out to Yahweh, who deserves to be praised, and he rescued me from my enemies.
I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my 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 sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
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 sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented 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 on the LORD, and cried to my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into 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 shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and 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.
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He opened the sky and came down with a black cloud under his feet.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and 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 on a cherub, and did fly: yes, he did fly on 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 secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and 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 that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones 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 Highest gave his voice; hail stones 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).
Yes, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightning, 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.
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your 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 above, 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 my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 When I (was distressed/had troubles), they attacked me, but Yahweh defended/protected me.
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
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 has 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 judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23 He knows that I have not done what is wrong; I have kept myself from sinning.
I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 So he rewards me because I do what is right; he knows that I [SYN] have not committed sins.
Therefore has the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
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 you will show yourself merciful; with an upright man you will show yourself 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 you will show yourself pure; and with the fraudulent you will show yourself devious.
27 You save those who are humble, but you cause those who are proud to be humiliated/ashamed.
For you will save the afflicted people; but will bring down high looks.
28 You give light to my [soul/spirit]; you take away the darkness of my soul.
For you will light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten 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 you I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over 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 buckler to all those that trust 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? or who is a rock save 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.
It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
33 He enables me to [walk swiftly without stumbling], like a deer walks/runs in the mountains.
He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on 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.
He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.
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.
You have also given me the shield of your salvation: and your right hand has held me up, and your gentleness has made me great.
36 You have cleared the road for me, with the result that now I do not slip/stumble.
You have enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until I had defeated/killed them all.
I have pursued my enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again 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 wounded them that they were 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 you have girded me with strength to the battle: you have 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.
You have also given me the necks of my enemies; that I might destroy 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 them: even to 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 dirt in 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].
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; and you have made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall 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 shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves to me.
45 They are no longer courageous, and from their forts [where they were hiding] they come [to me] trembling.
The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid 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 lives; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 He enables me to get revenge on my enemies; he causes me to defeat nations and to rule over them,
It is God that avenges me, and subdues the people 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 delivers me from my enemies: yes, you lift me up above those that rise up against me: you have delivered me from the violent man.
49 So I praise him [and I tell] the nations [the great things that he has done].
Therefore will I give thanks to you, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises to your 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 deliverance gives he to his king; and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for ever more.
