< Psalmorum 18 >
1 in finem puero Domini David quae locutus est Domino verba cantici huius in die qua eripuit eum Dominus de manu omnium inimicorum eius et de manu Saul et dixit diligam te Domine fortitudo mea
Yahweh, I love you, the one who enables me to be strong.
2 Dominus firmamentum meum et refugium meum et liberator meus Deus meus adiutor meus et sperabo in eum protector meus et cornu salutis meae et susceptor meus
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].
3 laudans invocabo Dominum et ab inimicis meis salvus ero
I called out to Yahweh, who deserves to be praised, and he rescued me from my enemies.
4 circumdederunt me dolores mortis et torrentes iniquitatis conturbaverunt me
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.
5 dolores inferni circumdederunt me praeoccupaverunt me laquei mortis (Sheol )
[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 )
6 cum tribularer invocavi Dominum et ad Deum meum clamavi exaudivit de templo sancto suo vocem meam et clamor meus in conspectu eius introibit in aures eius
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].
7 et commota est et contremuit terra et fundamenta montium conturbata sunt et commota sunt quoniam iratus est eis
Then the earth quaked/shook strongly [DOU]; the mountains shook very strongly from their centers [DOU] because Yahweh was angry.
8 ascendit fumus in ira eius et ignis a facie eius exarsit carbones succensi sunt ab eo
[It was as though] smoke poured out from his nostrils, and [as though] burning coals came out of his mouth.
9 inclinavit caelos et descendit et caligo sub pedibus eius
He opened the sky and came down with a black cloud under his feet.
10 et ascendit super cherubin et volavit volavit super pinnas ventorum
He flew, riding on the back of a creature that had wings, traveling [fast], blown along by the wind.
11 et posuit tenebras latibulum suum in circuitu eius tabernaculum eius tenebrosa aqua in nubibus aeris
Darkness was all around him [like a blanket] [MET]; dark clouds, full of moisture, covered him [MET].
12 prae fulgore in conspectu eius nubes eius; transierunt grando et carbones ignis
Hailstones and flashes of lightning were around him; hail and burning coals fell from the sky.
13 et intonuit de caelo Dominus et Altissimus dedit vocem suam grando et carbones ignis;
Then Yahweh [spoke in a loud voice] from the sky, and [his enemies] heard his voice that sounded like thunder.
14 et misit sagittas et dissipavit eos et fulgora multiplicavit et conturbavit eos
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).
15 et apparuerunt fontes aquarum et revelata sunt fundamenta orbis terrarum ab increpatione tua Domine ab inspiratione spiritus irae tuae
The bottom of the ocean became visible, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered, when Yahweh rebuked his enemies when he snorted.
16 misit de summo et accepit me adsumpsit me de aquis multis
[It was as though] he reached down from heaven and grabbed me and pulled me up out of the deep ocean.
17 eripiet me de inimicis meis fortissimis et ab his qui oderunt me quoniam confirmati sunt super me
He rescued me from my strong enemies who hated me; they were very strong, with the result that I [could not defeat them].
18 praevenerunt me in die adflictionis meae et factus est Dominus protector meus
When I (was distressed/had troubles), they attacked me, but Yahweh defended/protected me.
19 et eduxit me in latitudinem salvum me faciet quoniam voluit me
He led me to a place where I was safe; he rescued me because he was pleased with me.
20 et retribuet mihi Dominus secundum iustitiam meam et secundum puritatem manuum mearum retribuet mihi
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).
21 quia custodivi vias Domini nec impie gessi a Deo meo
I have obeyed Yahweh’s laws; I have not abandoned him.
22 quoniam omnia iudicia eius in conspectu meo sunt et iustitias eius non reppuli a me
My behavior was directed by his rules; I have not stopped obeying them.
23 et ero inmaculatus cum eo et observabo ab iniquitate mea
He knows that I have not done what is wrong; I have kept myself from sinning.
24 et retribuet mihi Dominus secundum iustitiam meam et secundum puritatem manuum mearum in conspectu oculorum eius
So he rewards me because I do what is right; he knows that I [SYN] have not committed sins.
25 cum sancto sanctus eris et cum viro innocente innocens eris
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.
26 et cum electo electus eris et cum perverso perverteris
You are kind to those who are kind to others, but you act wisely toward those who (act perversely/do bad things).
27 quoniam tu populum humilem salvum facies et oculos superborum humiliabis
You save those who are humble, but you cause those who are proud to be humiliated/ashamed.
28 quoniam tu inluminas lucernam meam Domine Deus meus inluminas tenebras meas
You give light to my [soul/spirit]; you take away the darkness of my soul.
29 quoniam in te eripiar a temptatione et in Deo meo transgrediar murum
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].
30 Deus meus inpolluta via eius eloquia Domini igne examinata protector est omnium sperantium in eum
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.
31 quoniam quis deus praeter Dominum et quis deus praeter Deum nostrum
Yahweh is [RHQ] the only one who is God; only he is like an [overhanging] rock [under which we can be safe].
32 Deus qui praecingit me virtute et posuit inmaculatam viam meam
God is the one who enables me to be strong and who keeps me safe on the roads that I walk on.
33 qui perfecit pedes meos tamquam cervorum et super excelsa statuens me
He enables me to [walk swiftly without stumbling], like a deer walks/runs in the mountains.
34 qui doces manus meas in proelium et posuisti arcum aereum brachia mea
He teaches me how to use a strong/metal bow in order that I can use it to fight in battles.
35 et dedisti mihi protectionem salutis tuae et dextera tua suscepit me et disciplina tua correxit me in finem et disciplina tua ipsa me docebit
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.
36 dilatasti gressus meos subtus me et non sunt infirmata vestigia mea
You have cleared the road for me, with the result that now I do not slip/stumble.
37 persequar inimicos meos et conprehendam illos et non convertar donec deficiant
I have pursued my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until I had defeated/killed them all.
38 confringam illos nec poterunt stare cadent subtus pedes meos
When I strike them, they are not able to get up again; they lie on the ground, defeated.
39 et praecinxisti me virtute ad bellum subplantasti insurgentes in me subtus me
You have enabled me to be strong in order that I can fight battles and defeat my enemies.
40 et inimicos meos dedisti mihi dorsum et odientes me disperdisti
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.
41 clamaverunt nec erat qui salvos faceret ad Dominum nec exaudivit eos
They called out for someone to help them, but no one saved them.
42 et comminuam illos ut pulverem ante faciem venti ut lutum platearum delebo eos
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.
43 eripe me de contradictionibus populi constitues me in caput gentium
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].
44 populus quem non cognovi servivit mihi in auditu auris oboedivit mihi
When foreigners hear about me, they (cringe/bow low before me) and they obey me.
45 filii alieni mentiti sunt mihi filii alieni inveterati sunt et claudicaverunt a semitis suis
They are no longer courageous, and from their forts [where they were hiding] they come [to me] trembling.
46 vivit Dominus et benedictus Deus meus et exaltetur Deus salutis meae
Yahweh is alive! Praise the one who is like an [overhanging] rock [MET] [under which I am safe] Exalt the God who saves me!
47 Deus qui dat vindictas mihi et subdidit populos sub me liberator meus de gentibus iracundis
He enables me to get revenge on my enemies; he causes me to defeat nations and to rule over them,
48 et ab insurgentibus in me exaltabis me a viro iniquo eripies me
and he rescues me from my enemies. He has lifted me up high so that violent men could not reach me [and harm me].
49 propterea confitebor tibi in nationibus Domine et psalmum dicam nomini tuo
So I praise him [and I tell] the nations [the great things that he has done].
50 magnificans salutes regis eius et faciens misericordiam christo suo David et semini eius usque in saeculum
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.