Psalms 18
1 Yahweh, I love you, the one who enables me to be strong.
| למנצח לעבד יהוה--לדוד אשר דבר ליהוה את-דברי השירה הזאת-- ביום הציל-יהוה אותו מכף כל-איביו ומיד שאול ב ויאמר-- ארחמך יהוה חזקי |
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].
| יהוה סלעי ומצודתי-- ומפלטי אלי צורי אחסה-בו מגני וקרן-ישעי משגבי |
3 I called out to Yahweh, who deserves to be praised, and he rescued me from my enemies.
| מהלל אקרא יהוה ומן-איבי אושע |
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.
| אפפוני חבלי-מות ונחלי בליעל יבעתוני |
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)
| חבלי שאול סבבוני קדמוני מוקשי מות (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].
| בצר-לי אקרא יהוה-- ואל-אלהי אשוע ישמע מהיכלו קולי ושועתי לפניו תבוא באזניו |
7 Then the earth quaked/shook strongly [DOU]; the mountains shook very strongly from their centers [DOU] because Yahweh was angry.
| ותגעש ותרעש הארץ-- ומוסדי הרים ירגזו ויתגעשו כי-חרה לו |
8 [It was as though] smoke poured out from his nostrils, and [as though] burning coals came out of his mouth.
| עלה עשן באפו-- ואש-מפיו תאכל גחלים בערו ממנו |
9 He opened the sky and came down with a black cloud under his feet.
| ויט שמים וירד וערפל תחת רגליו |
10 He flew, riding on the back of a creature that had wings, traveling [fast], blown along by the wind.
| וירכב על-כרוב ויעף וידא על-כנפי-רוח |
11 Darkness was all around him [like a blanket] [MET]; dark clouds, full of moisture, covered him [MET].
| ישת חשך סתרו-- סביבותיו סכתו חשכת-מים עבי שחקים |
12 Hailstones and flashes of lightning were around him; hail and burning coals fell from the sky.
| מנגה נגדו עביו עברו--ברד וגחלי-אש |
13 Then Yahweh [spoke in a loud voice] from the sky, and [his enemies] heard his voice that sounded like thunder.
| וירעם בשמים יהוה--ועליון יתן קלו ברד וגחלי-אש |
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).
| וישלח חציו ויפיצם וברקים רב ויהמם |
15 The bottom of the ocean became visible, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered, when Yahweh rebuked his enemies when he snorted.
| ויראו אפיקי מים ויגלו מוסדות תבל מגערתך יהוה-- מנשמת רוח אפך |
16 [It was as though] he reached down from heaven and grabbed me and pulled me up out of the deep ocean.
| ישלח ממרום יקחני ימשני ממים רבים |
17 He rescued me from my strong enemies who hated me; they were very strong, with the result that I [could not defeat them].
| יצילני מאיבי עז ומשנאי כי-אמצו ממני |
18 When I (was distressed/had troubles), they attacked me, but Yahweh defended/protected me.
| יקדמוני ביום-אידי ויהי-יהוה למשען לי |
19 He led me to a place where I was safe; he rescued me because he was pleased with me.
| ויוציאני למרחב יחלצני כי חפץ בי |
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).
| יגמלני יהוה כצדקי כבר ידי ישיב לי |
21 I have obeyed Yahweh’s laws; I have not abandoned him.
| כי-שמרתי דרכי יהוה ולא-רשעתי מאלהי |
22 My behavior was directed by his rules; I have not stopped obeying them.
| כי כל-משפטיו לנגדי וחקתיו לא-אסיר מני |
23 He knows that I have not done what is wrong; I have kept myself from sinning.
| ואהי תמים עמו ואשתמר מעוני |
24 So he rewards me because I do what is right; he knows that I [SYN] have not committed sins.
| וישב-יהוה לי כצדקי כבר ידי לנגד עיניו |
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.
| עם-חסיד תתחסד עם-גבר תמים תתמם |
26 You are kind to those who are kind to others, but you act wisely toward those who (act perversely/do bad things).
| עם-נבר תתברר ועם-עקש תתפתל |
27 You save those who are humble, but you cause those who are proud to be humiliated/ashamed.
| כי-אתה עם-עני תושיע ועינים רמות תשפיל |
28 You give light to my [soul/spirit]; you take away the darkness of my soul.
| כי-אתה תאיר נרי יהוה אלהי יגיה חשכי |
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].
| כי-בך ארץ גדוד ובאלהי אדלג-שור |
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.
| האל תמים דרכו אמרת-יהוה צרופה מגן הוא לכל החסים בו |
31 Yahweh is [RHQ] the only one who is God; only he is like an [overhanging] rock [under which we can be safe].
| כי מי אלוה מבלעדי יהוה ומי צור זולתי אלהינו |
32 God is the one who enables me to be strong and who keeps me safe on the roads that I walk on.
| האל המאזרני חיל ויתן תמים דרכי |
33 He enables me to [walk swiftly without stumbling], like a deer walks/runs in the mountains.
| משוה רגלי כאילות ועל במתי יעמידני |
34 He teaches me how to use a strong/metal bow in order that I can use it to fight in battles.
| מלמד ידי למלחמה ונחתה קשת-נחושה זרועתי |
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.
| ותתן-לי מגן ישעך וימינך תסעדני וענותך תרבני |
36 You have cleared the road for me, with the result that now I do not slip/stumble.
| תרחיב צעדי תחתי ולא מעדו קרסלי |
37 I have pursued my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until I had defeated/killed them all.
| ארדוף אויבי ואשיגם ולא-אשוב עד-כלותם |
38 When I strike them, they are not able to get up again; they lie on the ground, defeated.
| אמחצם ולא-יכלו קום יפלו תחת רגלי |
39 You have enabled me to be strong in order that I can fight battles and defeat my enemies.
| ותאזרני חיל למלחמה תכריע קמי תחתי |
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.
| ואיבי נתתה לי ערף ומשנאי אצמיתם |
41 They called out for someone to help them, but no one saved them.
| ישועו ואין-מושיע על-יהוה ולא ענם |
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.
| ואשחקם כעפר על-פני-רוח כטיט חוצות אריקם |
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].
| תפלטני מריבי-עם תשימני לראש גוים עם לא-ידעתי יעבדוני |
44 When foreigners hear about me, they (cringe/bow low before me) and they obey me.
| לשמע אזן ישמעו לי בני-נכר יכחשו-לי |
45 They are no longer courageous, and from their forts [where they were hiding] they come [to me] trembling.
| בני-נכר יבלו ויחרגו ממסגרותיהם |
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!
| חי-יהוה וברוך צורי וירום אלוהי ישעי |
47 He enables me to get revenge on my enemies; he causes me to defeat nations and to rule over them,
| האל--הנותן נקמות לי וידבר עמים תחתי |
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].
| מפלטי מאיבי אף מן-קמי תרוממני מאיש חמס תצילני |
49 So I praise him [and I tell] the nations [the great things that he has done].
| על-כן אודך בגוים יהוה ולשמך אזמרה |
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.
| מגדל ישועות מלכו ועשה חסד למשיחו--לדוד ולזרעו עד-עולם |
