Psalms 18
1 Yahweh, I love you, the one who enables me to be strong.
Dem Sangmeister. Vom Knechte Jahwes, von David, der vor Jahwe die Worte dieses Liedes redete, als ihn Jahwe errettet hatte aus der Hand aller seiner Feinde, auch aus der Hand Sauls.
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].
Er sprach: Von Herzen lieb ich dich, Jahwe, meine Stärke!
3 I called out to Yahweh, who deserves to be praised, and he rescued me from my enemies.
Jahwe, mein Fels, meine Burg, mein Retter bist du! / Mein Gott ist mein Hort, zu dem ich fliehe. / Mein Schild, das Horn meines Heils, meine Feste ist er.
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.
Preiswürdig, ruf ich, ist Jahwe, / Ich ward errettet von meinen Feinden!
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)
Des Todes Stricke umfingen mich, / Verderbliche Bäche schreckten mich; (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].
Der Unterwelt Bande umringten mich, / Es ergriffen mich Schlingen des Todes.
7 Then the earth quaked/shook strongly [DOU]; the mountains shook very strongly from their centers [DOU] because Yahweh was angry.
In meiner Angst rief ich Jahwe an / Und schrie zu meinem Gott. / Da vernahm er mein Beten aus seinem Palast, / Mein Schreien drang in seine Ohren.
8 [It was as though] smoke poured out from his nostrils, and [as though] burning coals came out of his mouth.
Es wankte und schwankte die Erde, / Der Berge Grundfesten bebten / Und zitterten, weil er zornig war.
9 He opened the sky and came down with a black cloud under his feet.
In seiner Nase stieg Rauch empor, / Aus seinem Munde fraß Feuer, / Glühende Kohlen flammten aus ihm.
10 He flew, riding on the back of a creature that had wings, traveling [fast], blown along by the wind.
Er neigte den Himmel und fuhr herab, / Unter seinen Füßen war Wolkennacht.
11 Darkness was all around him [like a blanket] [MET]; dark clouds, full of moisture, covered him [MET].
Er fuhr auf dem Kerub und flog einher, / Schwebte auf den Schwingen des Windes.
12 Hailstones and flashes of lightning were around him; hail and burning coals fell from the sky.
Er machte Dunkel zu seiner Hülle, / Zu seinem Gezelte ringsumher; / Es umgab ihn Wasserflut und dickes Gewölk.
13 Then Yahweh [spoke in a loud voice] from the sky, and [his enemies] heard his voice that sounded like thunder.
Vom Glanz vor ihm her durchzuckten die Wolken / Hagel und feurige Kohlen.
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).
Es donnerte Jahwe vom Himmel her, / Der Höchste ließ seine Stimme schallen / (Mit Hagel und feurigen Kohlen).
15 The bottom of the ocean became visible, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered, when Yahweh rebuked his enemies when he snorted.
Er schoß seine Pfeile, zerstreute sie.
16 [It was as though] he reached down from heaven and grabbed me and pulled me up out of the deep ocean.
Da wurden sichtbar die Betten des Meeres, / Bloßgelegt des Erdrunds Gründe / Vor deinem Schelten, Jahwe, / Vor deines Zornhauchs Schnauben.
17 He rescued me from my strong enemies who hated me; they were very strong, with the result that I [could not defeat them].
Er griff aus der Höhe, erfaßte mich / Und zog mich aus tiefen Wassern.
18 When I (was distressed/had troubles), they attacked me, but Yahweh defended/protected me.
Von meinem Todfeind befreite er mich, / Von meinen Hassern, die mir zu mächtig waren.
19 He led me to a place where I was safe; he rescued me because he was pleased with me.
An meinem Unglückstag überfielen sie mich, / Aber Jahwe ward meine Stütze.
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).
Er führte mich ins Freie hinaus; / Er rettete mich, weil er mich liebte.
21 I have obeyed Yahweh’s laws; I have not abandoned him.
Jahwe vergalt mir nach meiner Gerechtigkeit, / Nach meiner Hände Reinheit lohnte er mir.
22 My behavior was directed by his rules; I have not stopped obeying them.
Denn Jahwes Wege bin ich gewandelt, / Nicht abgefallen von meinem Gott.
23 He knows that I have not done what is wrong; I have kept myself from sinning.
Nein, all seine Rechte befolgte ich treu, / Von seinen Satzungen wich ich nicht.
24 So he rewards me because I do what is right; he knows that I [SYN] have not committed sins.
Ich war ohne Tadel vor ihm / Und hütete mich vor Missetat.
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.
Drum vergalt mir Jahwe nach meiner Gerechtigkeit, / Nach meiner Lauterkeit, die ihm bekannt.
26 You are kind to those who are kind to others, but you act wisely toward those who (act perversely/do bad things).
Dem Guten erzeigst du dich gütig, / Mit dem redlichen Manne verfährst du redlich;
27 You save those who are humble, but you cause those who are proud to be humiliated/ashamed.
Dem Reinen zeigst du dich rein, / Dem Falschen vergiltst du nach seinem Verhalten.
28 You give light to my [soul/spirit]; you take away the darkness of my soul.
Denn du hilfst den bedrückten Leuten, / Doch stolze Augen erniedrigst du.
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].
Du machst meine Leuchte licht; / Jahwe, mein Gott, erhellet mein Dunkel.
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.
Denn im Vertrauen auf dich greif ich Heerhaufen an, / Und mit meinem Gott überspringe ich Mauern.
31 Yahweh is [RHQ] the only one who is God; only he is like an [overhanging] rock [under which we can be safe].
Gottes Wege sind makellos, / Jahwes Wort ist bewährt; / Ein Schild ist er allen, die zu ihm fliehn.
32 God is the one who enables me to be strong and who keeps me safe on the roads that I walk on.
Denn wer ist Eloah als Jahwe allein? / Und wer ist ein Hort außer unserem Gott?
33 He enables me to [walk swiftly without stumbling], like a deer walks/runs in the mountains.
Gott ist's, der mich mit Kraft gegürtet, / Der meinen Weg ohn Anstoß machte.
34 He teaches me how to use a strong/metal bow in order that I can use it to fight in battles.
Er gab mir der Hindin Schnelligkeit / Und stellte mich auf die Höhen.
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.
Er übte meine Hände zum Kampf, / Daß meine Arme den ehernen Bogen spannten.
36 You have cleared the road for me, with the result that now I do not slip/stumble.
Du gabst mir den Schild deines Heils, / Deine Rechte stützte mich, / Und deine Milde machte mich groß.
37 I have pursued my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until I had defeated/killed them all.
Du ließest mich frei meines Weges gehn, / Und meine Knöchel wankten nicht.
38 When I strike them, they are not able to get up again; they lie on the ground, defeated.
Ich verfolgte die Feinde und holte sie ein; / Ich kehrte nicht um, bis ich sie vernichtet.
39 You have enabled me to be strong in order that I can fight battles and defeat my enemies.
Ich zerschellte sie, daß sie nimmer aufstanden, / Zu meinen Füßen sanken sie hin.
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.
Du gürtetest mich mit Kraft zum Streit, / Du beugtest meine Gegner unter mich.
41 They called out for someone to help them, but no one saved them.
Meine Feinde ließest du vor mir fliehn, / Und meine Hasser zerschellte ich.
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.
Sie schrien, aber kein Helfer war da; / Sie schrien zu Jahwe — er hörte sie nicht.
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].
Ich zerrieb sie wie Staub vor dem Winde, / Wie Gassenkot zertrat ich sie.
44 When foreigners hear about me, they (cringe/bow low before me) and they obey me.
Du halfst mir aus Volkesfehden, / Setztest mich ein zum Herrscher der Heiden: / Leute, mir unbekannt, wurden mir dienstbar.
45 They are no longer courageous, and from their forts [where they were hiding] they come [to me] trembling.
Schon als sie hörten (von meinen Siegen), gehorchten sie mir, / Des Auslands Bewohner schmeichelten mir.
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!
Des Auslands Bewohner welkten dahin / Und kamen zitternd aus ihren Burgen.
47 He enables me to get revenge on my enemies; he causes me to defeat nations and to rule over them,
Jahwe lebt, mein Hort sei gepriesen, / Erhoben der Gott meines Heils,
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].
Der Gott, der mir Rache verliehn / Und Völker mir unterworfen,
49 So I praise him [and I tell] the nations [the great things that he has done].
Der mich gerettet von meinen Feinden! / Über meine Gegner erhebst du mich. / Entreißt mich dem Mann der Gewalttat.
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.
Drum preis ich dich, Jahwe, unter den Völkern, / Deinem Namen will ich lobsingen. Denn Jahwe schenkt seinem Könige Heil / Und erweiset Gnade seinem Gesalbten: / David und seinem Samen auf ewig!
