וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר דָּוִד֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את {ס} בְּיוֹם֩ הִצִּ֨יל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֹת֛וֹ מִכַּ֥ף כׇּל־אֹיְבָ֖יו וּמִכַּ֥ף שָׁאֽוּל׃ {ס} aThis poem occurs again as Ps. 18, with a number of variations, some of which are cited in the following notes.David addressed the words of this song to the LORD, after the LORD had saved him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hands of Saul.
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר יְהֹוָ֛ה סַֽלְעִ֥י וּמְצֻדָתִ֖י וּמְפַלְטִי־לִֽי׃ He said:
O LORD, my crag, my fastness, my deliverer!
אֱלֹהֵ֥י צוּרִ֖י אֶחֱסֶה־בּ֑וֹ {ס} מָגִנִּ֞י וְקֶ֣רֶן יִשְׁעִ֗י מִשְׂגַּבִּי֙ וּמְנוּסִ֔י {ס} מֹשִׁעִ֕י מֵחָמָ֖ס תֹּשִׁעֵֽנִי׃ O bLit. “the God of my rock”; Ps. 18.3 “my God, my rock.”God, the rock-b wherein I take shelter:
My shield, my cLit. “horn of rescue.”mighty champion,-c my fortress and refuge!
My savior, You who rescue me from violence!
מְהֻלָּ֖ל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהֹוָ֑ה {ס} וּמֵאֹיְבַ֖י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃ dConstruction of Heb. uncertain.All praise! I called on the LORD,-d
And I was delivered from my enemies.
כִּ֥י אֲפָפֻ֖נִי מִשְׁבְּרֵי־מָ֑וֶת {ס} נַחֲלֵ֥י בְלִיַּ֖עַל יְבַעֲתֻֽנִי׃ For the breakers of Death encompassed me,
The torrents of BelialeI.e., the netherworld, like “Death” and “Sheol.” terrified me;
חֶבְלֵ֥י שְׁא֖וֹל סַבֻּ֑נִי {ס} קִדְּמֻ֖נִי מֹ֥קְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃ The snares of Sheol encircled me,
The coils of Death engulfed me.
בַּצַּר־לִי֙ אֶקְרָ֣א יְהֹוָ֔ה וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַ֖י אֶקְרָ֑א {ס} וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע מֵהֵֽיכָלוֹ֙ קוֹלִ֔י וְשַׁוְעָתִ֖י בְּאׇזְנָֽיו׃ In my anguish I called on the LORD,
Cried out to my God;
In His AbodefLit. “Temple.” He heard my voice,
My cry entered His ears.
(ותגעש) [וַיִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁ] וַתִּרְעַשׁ֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ {ס} מוֹסְד֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִרְגָּ֑זוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ כִּי־חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃ Then the earth rocked and quaked,
The foundations of heavengPs. 18.8 “mountains.” shook—
Rocked by His indignation.
עָלָ֤ה עָשָׁן֙ בְּאַפּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֥שׁ מִפִּ֖יו תֹּאכֵ֑ל {ס} גֶּחָלִ֖ים בָּעֲר֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ Smoke went up from His nostrils,
From His mouth came devouring fire;
Live coals blazed forth from Him.
וַיֵּ֥ט שָׁמַ֖יִם וַיֵּרַ֑ד {ס} וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל תַּ֥חַת רַגְלָֽיו׃ He bent the sky and came down,
Thick cloud beneath His feet.
וַיִּרְכַּ֥ב עַל־כְּר֖וּב וַיָּעֹ֑ף {ס} וַיֵּרָ֖א עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃ He mounted a cherub and flew;
hPs. 18.11 “Gliding.”He was seen-h on the wings of the wind.
וַיָּ֥שֶׁת חֹ֛שֶׁךְ סְבִיבֹתָ֖יו סֻכּ֑וֹת {ס} חַֽשְׁרַת־מַ֖יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים׃ He made pavilions of darkness about Him,
Dripping clouds, huge thunderheads;
מִנֹּ֖גַהּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ בָּעֲר֖וּ גַּחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃ {ס} In the brilliance before Him
Blazed fiery coals.
יַרְעֵ֥ם מִן־שָׁמַ֖יִם יְהֹוָ֑ה וְעֶלְי֖וֹן יִתֵּ֥ן קוֹלֽוֹ׃ {ס} The LORD thundered forth from heaven,
The Most High sent forth His voice;
וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח חִצִּ֖ים וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם בָּרָ֖ק (ויהמם) [וַיָּהֹֽם]׃ He let loose bolts, and scattered them;iI.e., the enemies in v. 4.
Lightning, and put them to rout.
וַיֵּֽרָאוּ֙ אֲפִ֣קֵי יָ֔ם יִגָּל֖וּ מֹסְד֣וֹת תֵּבֵ֑ל {ס} בְּגַעֲרַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה מִנִּשְׁמַ֖ת ר֥וּחַ אַפּֽוֹ׃ The bed of the sea was exposed,
The foundations of the world were laid bare
By the mighty roaring of the LORD,
At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
יִשְׁלַ֥ח מִמָּר֖וֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי {ס} יַֽמְשֵׁ֖נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃ He reached down from on high, He took me,
Drew me out of the mighty waters;jCf. v. 5.
יַצִּילֵ֕נִי מֵאֹיְבִ֖י עָ֑ז {ס} מִשֹּׂ֣נְאַ֔י כִּ֥י אָמְצ֖וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ He rescued me from my enemy so strong,
From foes too mighty for me.
יְקַדְּמֻ֖נִי בְּי֣וֹם אֵידִ֑י וַיְהִ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה מִשְׁעָ֖ן לִֽי׃ {ס} They attacked me on my day of calamity,
But the LORD was my stay.
וַיֹּצֵ֥א לַמֶּרְחָ֖ב אֹתִ֑י יְחַלְּצֵ֖נִי כִּי־חָ֥פֵֽץ בִּֽי׃ {ס} He brought me out to freedom,
He rescued me because He was pleased with me.
יִגְמְלֵ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֖ה כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָדַ֖י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי׃ {ס} The LORD rewarded me according to my merit,
He requited the cleanness of my hands.
כִּ֥י שָׁמַ֖רְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א רָשַׁ֖עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃ {ס} For I have kept the ways of the LORD
And have not been guilty before my God;
כִּ֥י כׇל־מִשְׁפָּטָ֖ו לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו לֹא־אָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ I am mindful of all His rules
And have not departed from His laws.
וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה תָמִ֖ים ל֑וֹ {ס} וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָ֖ה מֵעֲוֺנִֽי׃ I have been blameless before Him,
And have guarded myself against sinning—
וַיָּ֧שֶׁב יְהֹוָ֛ה לִ֖י כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י {ס} כְּבֹרִ֖י לְנֶ֥גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃ And the LORD has requited my merit,
According to my purity in His sight.
עִם־חָסִ֖יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד {ס} עִם־גִּבּ֥וֹר תָּמִ֖ים תִּתַּמָּֽם׃ With the loyal You deal loyally;
With the blameless hero,kPs. 18.26 “man.” blamelessly.
עִם־נָבָ֖ר תִּתָּבָ֑ר {ס} וְעִם־עִקֵּ֖שׁ תִּתַּפָּֽל׃ With the pure You act in purity,
And with the perverse You are wily.
וְאֶת־עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י תּוֹשִׁ֑יעַ {ס} וְעֵינֶ֥יךָ עַל־רָמִ֖ים תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃ To humble folk You give victory,
lLit. “And lower Your eyes on the haughty”; Ps. 18.28 “But haughty eyes You humble.”And You look with scorn on the haughty.-l
כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה נֵירִ֖י יְהֹוָ֑ה {ס} וַיהֹוָ֖ה יַגִּ֥יהַּ חׇשְׁכִּֽי׃ You, O LORD, are my lamp;
The LORD lights up my darkness.
כִּ֥י בְכָ֖ה אָר֣וּץ גְּד֑וּד {ס} בֵּאלֹהַ֖י אֲדַלֶּג־שֽׁוּר׃ With You, I can rush a barrier,mCf. postbiblical gedudiyyoth “walls,” Aramaic gudda, “wall.”
With my God, I can scale a wall.
הָאֵ֖ל תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכּ֑וֹ אִמְרַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ צְרוּפָ֔ה {ס} מָגֵ֣ן ה֔וּא לְכֹ֖ל הַֽחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃ The way of God is perfect,
The word of the LORD is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
כִּ֥י מִי־אֵ֖ל מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה {ס} וּמִ֥י צ֖וּר מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ Yea, who is a god except the LORD,
Who is a rock except God?—
הָאֵ֥ל מָֽעוּזִּ֖י חָ֑יִל {ס} וַיַּתֵּ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים (דרכו) [דַּרְכִּֽי]׃ The God, nPs. 18.33 “who girded me with might.”my mighty stronghold,-n
Who keptoMeaning of Heb. uncertain; Ps. 18.33 “made.” my path secure;
מְשַׁוֶּ֥ה (רגליו) [רַגְלַ֖י] כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת {ס} וְעַ֥ל בָּמֹתַ֖י יַעֲמִדֵֽנִי׃ Who made my legs like a deer’s,
And set me firm on thepTaking bamothai as a poetic form of bamoth; cf. Hab. 3.19; others “my.” heights;
מְלַמֵּ֥ד יָדַ֖י לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה {ס} וְנִחַ֥ת קֶשֶׁת־נְחוּשָׁ֖ה זְרֹעֹתָֽי׃ Who trained my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze!
וַתִּתֶּן־לִ֖י מָגֵ֣ן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וַעֲנֹתְךָ֖ תַּרְבֵּֽנִי׃ {ס} You have granted me the shield of Your protection
qMeaning of Heb. uncertain.And Your providence has made me great.-q
תַּרְחִ֥יב צַעֲדִ֖י תַּחְתֵּ֑נִי וְלֹ֥א מָעֲד֖וּ קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃ You have let me stride on freely,
And my feet have not slipped.
אֶרְדְּפָ֥ה אֹיְבַ֖י וָאַשְׁמִידֵ֑ם {ס} וְלֹ֥א אָשׁ֖וּב עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃ I pursued my enemies and wiped them out,
I did not turn back till I destroyed them.
וָאֲכַלֵּ֥ם וָאֶמְחָצֵ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יְקוּמ֑וּן {ס} וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ תַּ֥חַת רַגְלָֽי׃ I destroyed them, I struck them down;
They rose no more, they lay at my feet.
וַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי חַ֖יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה {ס} תַּכְרִ֥יעַ קָמַ֖י תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃ You have girt me with strength for battle,
Brought low my foes before me,
וְאֹ֣יְבַ֔י תַּ֥תָּה לִּ֖י עֹ֑רֶף מְשַׂנְאַ֖י וָאַצְמִיתֵֽם׃ {ס} Made my enemies turn tail before me,
My foes—and I wiped them out.
יִשְׁע֖וּ וְאֵ֣ין מֹשִׁ֑יעַ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽם׃ They looked,rPs. 18.42 “cried.” but there was none to deliver;
To the LORD, but He answered them not.
וְאֶשְׁחָקֵ֖ם כַּעֲפַר־אָ֑רֶץ {ס} כְּטִיט־חוּצ֥וֹת אֲדִקֵּ֖ם אֶרְקָעֵֽם׃ I pounded them like dust of the earth,
Stamped, crushed them like dirt of the streets.
וַֽתְּפַלְּטֵ֔נִי מֵרִיבֵ֖י עַמִּ֑י תִּשְׁמְרֵ֙נִי֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ גּוֹיִ֔ם {ס} עַ֥ם לֹא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי יַעַבְדֻֽנִי׃ You have rescued me from the strife of peoples,sSo some mss. and the Septuagint; most mss. and the printed editions “my people.”
tPs. 18.44 “made me.”Kept me to be-t a ruler of nations;
Peoples I knew not must serve me.
בְּנֵ֥י נֵכָ֖ר יִתְכַּחֲשׁוּ־לִ֑י לִשְׁמ֥וֹעַ אֹ֖זֶן יִשָּׁ֥מְעוּ לִֽי׃ {ס} Aliens have cringed before me,
Paid me homage at the mere report of me.
בְּנֵ֥י נֵכָ֖ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ וְיַחְגְּר֖וּ מִמִּסְגְּרוֹתָֽם׃ Aliens have lost courage
qMeaning of Heb. uncertain.And come trembling out of their fastnesses.-q
חַי־יְהֹוָ֖ה וּבָר֣וּךְ צוּרִ֑י {ס} וְיָרֻ֕ם אֱלֹהֵ֖י צ֥וּר יִשְׁעִֽי׃ The LORD lives! Blessed is my rock!
Exalted be God, the rock
Who gives me victory;
הָאֵ֕ל הַנֹּתֵ֥ן נְקָמֹ֖ת לִ֑י {ס} וּמֹרִ֥יד עַמִּ֖ים תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃ The God who has vindicated me
And made peoples subject to me,
וּמוֹצִיאִ֖י מֵאֹֽיְבָ֑י וּמִקָּמַי֙ תְּר֣וֹמְמֵ֔נִי {ס} מֵאִ֥ישׁ חֲמָסִ֖ים תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃ Rescued me from my enemies,
Raised me clear of my foes,
Saved me from lawless men!
עַל־כֵּ֛ן אֽוֹדְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם {ס} וּלְשִׁמְךָ֖ אֲזַמֵּֽר׃ For this I sing Your praise among the nations
And hymn Your name:
(מגדיל) [מִגְדּ֖וֹל] יְשׁוּע֣וֹת מַלְכּ֑וֹ וְעֹֽשֶׂה־חֶ֧סֶד לִמְשִׁיח֛וֹ {ס} לְדָוִ֥ד וּלְזַרְע֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ {פ}
uKethib and Ps. 18.51 read “He accords wondrous victories.”Tower of victory-u to His king,
Who deals graciously with His anointed,
With David and his offspring evermore.