Chapter 18
1לַמְנַצֵּחַ לְעֶבֶד יְהֹוָה לְדָוִד אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לַיהֹוָה אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת בְּיוֹם הִֽצִּיל־יְהֹוָה־אוֹתוֹ מִכַּף כׇּל־אֹיְבָיו וּמִיַּד שָׁאֽוּלFor the leader. Of David, the servant of GOD, who addressed the words of this song to GOD after GOD had saved him from the hands of all his enemies and from the clutches of Saul.
2וַיֹּאמַר אֶרְחׇמְךָ יְהֹוָה חִזְקִֽיHe said: I adore you, O ETERNAL One, my strength,
3יְהֹוָה סַלְעִי וּמְצוּדָתִי וּמְפַלְטִי אֵלִי צוּרִי אֶֽחֱסֶה־בּוֹ מָֽגִנִּי וְקֶֽרֶן־יִשְׁעִי מִשְׂגַּבִּֽיO ETERNAL One, my crag, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock in which I take shelter, my shield, my mighty champion, my haven.
4מְהֻלָּל אֶקְרָא יְהֹוָה וּמִן־אֹיְבַי אִוָּשֵֽׁעַAll praise! I called on GOD and was delivered from my enemies.
5אֲפָפוּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָוֶת וְֽנַחֲלֵי בְלִיַּעַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִיRopes of Death encompassed me; torrents of Belial terrified me;
6חֶבְלֵי שְׁאוֹל סְבָבוּנִי קִדְּמוּנִי מוֹקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶתropes of Sheol encircled me; snares of Death confronted me.
7בַּצַּר־לִי אֶקְרָא יְהֹוָה וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַי אֲשַׁוֵּעַ יִשְׁמַע מֵהֵיכָלוֹ קוֹלִי וְשַׁוְעָתִי לְפָנָיו תָּבוֹא בְאׇזְנָֽיוIn my anguish I called on the ETERNAL, cried out to my God, who from a heavenly abode heard my voice, whose ears received my cry.
8וַתִּגְעַשׁ וַתִּרְעַשׁ הָאָרֶץ וּמוֹסְדֵי הָרִים יִרְגָּזוּ וַיִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁוּ כִּי־חָרָה לֽוֹThen the earth rocked and quaked; the foundations of the mountains shook— rocked by divine indignation;
9עָלָה עָשָׁן בְּאַפּוֹ וְאֵשׁ־מִפִּיו תֹּאכֵל גֶּחָלִים בָּעֲרוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּsmoke went up from God’s nostrils, devouring fire from God’s mouth— live coals blazing forth.
10וַיֵּט שָׁמַיִם וַיֵּרַד וַעֲרָפֶל תַּחַת רַגְלָֽיו[God] bent the sky and came down, thick cloud beneath divine feet.
11וַיִּרְכַּב עַל־כְּרוּב וַיָּעֹף וַיֵּדֶא עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ[God] mounted a cherub and flew, gliding on the wings of the wind.
12יָשֶׁת־חֹשֶׁךְ סִתְרוֹ סְבִֽיבוֹתָיו סֻכָּתוֹ חֶשְׁכַת־מַיִם עָבֵי שְׁחָקִֽים[God] made darkness a screen— pavilions of dark thunderheads, dense clouds of the sky all around.
13מִנֹּגַהּ נֶגְדּוֹ עָבָיו עָבְרוּ בָּרָד וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁIn the divine brilliance, hail and fiery coals pierced those clouds.
14וַיַּרְעֵם בַּשָּׁמַיִם יְֽהֹוָה וְעֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּן קֹלוֹ בָּרָד וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁThen GOD thundered from heaven, the Most High gave forth voice— hail and fiery coals—
15וַיִּשְׁלַח חִצָּיו וַיְפִיצֵם וּבְרָקִים רָב וַיְהֻמֵּֽםletting shafts fly, and scattering them; discharging lightning, and routing them.
16וַיֵּרָאוּ אֲפִיקֵי מַיִם וַֽיִּגָּלוּ מוֹסְדוֹת תֵּבֵל מִגַּעֲרָתְךָ יְהֹוָה מִנִּשְׁמַת רוּחַ אַפֶּֽךָThe ocean bed was exposed; the foundations of the world were laid bare by Your mighty roaring, O ETERNAL One, at the blast of Your breath.
17יִשְׁלַח מִמָּרוֹם יִקָּחֵנִי יַֽמְשֵׁנִי מִמַּיִם רַבִּֽיםReaching down from on high, [God] took me, drawing me out of the mighty waters—
18יַצִּילֵנִי מֵאֹיְבִי עָז וּמִשֹּׂנְאַי כִּֽי־אָמְצוּ מִמֶּֽנִּיrescuing me from my fierce enemy, from foes too strong for me.
19יְקַדְּמוּנִי בְיוֹם־אֵידִי וַֽיְהִי־יְהֹוָה לְמִשְׁעָן לִֽיThey confronted me on the day of my calamity, but GOD was my support—
20וַיּוֹצִיאֵנִי לַמֶּרְחָב יְחַלְּצֵנִי כִּי־חָפֵֽץ־בִּֽיbringing me out to freedom, pleased with me enough to rescue me.
21יִגְמְלֵנִי יְהֹוָה כְּצִדְקִי כְּבֹר יָדַי יָשִׁיב לִֽיGOD rewarded me according to my merit— requiting the cleanness of my hands—
22כִּֽי־שָׁמַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵי יְהֹוָה וְלֹֽא־רָשַׁעְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽיfor I have kept to the ways of GOD and have not been guilty before my God;
23כִּי כׇל־מִשְׁפָּטָיו לְנֶגְדִּי וְחֻקֹּתָיו לֹא־אָסִיר מֶֽנִּיfor I am mindful of all God’s rules and have not disregarded God’s laws.
24וָאֱהִי תָמִים עִמּוֹ וָאֶשְׁתַּמֵּר מֵעֲוֺנִֽיI have been blameless toward [God], and have guarded myself against sinning;
25וַיָּֽשֶׁב־יְהֹוָה לִי כְצִדְקִי כְּבֹר יָדַי לְנֶגֶד עֵינָֽיוand GOD has requited my merit, according to the evident cleanness of my hands.
26עִם־חָסִיד תִּתְחַסָּד עִם־גְּבַר תָּמִים תִּתַּמָּֽםWith the loyal, You deal loyally; with the blameless, blamelessly.
27עִם־נָבָר תִּתְבָּרָר וְעִם־עִקֵּשׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽלWith the pure, You act purely, and with the perverse, You are wily.
28כִּֽי־אַתָּה עַם־עָנִי תוֹשִׁיעַ וְעֵינַיִם רָמוֹת תַּשְׁפִּֽילIt is You who deliver lowly folk, but haughty eyes You humble.
29כִּֽי־אַתָּה תָּאִיר נֵרִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי יַגִּיהַּ חׇשְׁכִּֽיIt is You who light my lamp; my ETERNAL God lights up my darkness.
30כִּֽי־בְךָ אָרֻץ גְּדוּד וּבֵֽאלֹהַי אֲדַלֶּג־שֽׁוּרWith You, I can rush a barrier; with my God, I can scale a wall.
31הָאֵל תָּמִים דַּרְכּוֹ אִמְרַֽת־יְהֹוָה צְרוּפָה מָגֵן הוּא לְכֹל הַחֹסִים בּֽוֹThe way of God is perfect; the word of the ETERNAL is pure. [God] shields all who seek refuge.
32כִּי מִי אֱלוֹהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵי יְהֹוָה וּמִי צוּר זוּלָתִי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּTruly, who is a god except the ETERNAL, who is a rock but our God?—
33הָאֵל הַמְאַזְּרֵנִי חָיִל וַיִּתֵּן תָּמִים דַּרְכִּֽיthe God who girded me with might, who made my way secure;
34מְשַׁוֶּה רַגְלַי כָּאַיָּלוֹת וְעַל בָּמֹתַי יַעֲמִידֵֽנִיwho made my legs like a deer’s, and set me firmly on the heights;
35מְלַמֵּד יָדַי לַמִּלְחָמָה וְֽנִחֲתָה קֶֽשֶׁת־נְחוּשָׁה זְרוֹעֹתָֽיwho trained my hands for battle— my arms can bend a bow of bronze!
36וַתִּתֶּן־לִי מָגֵן יִשְׁעֶךָ וִֽימִינְךָ תִסְעָדֵנִי וְֽעַנְוַתְךָ תַרְבֵּֽנִיYou have granted me the shield of Your protection; Your right hand has sustained me, Your care has made me great.
37תַּרְחִיב צַעֲדִי תַחְתָּי וְלֹא מָעֲדוּ קַרְסֻלָּֽיYou have let me stride on freely; my feet have not slipped.
38אֶרְדּוֹף אוֹיְבַי וְאַשִּׂיגֵם וְלֹֽא־אָשׁוּב עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽםI pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till I destroyed them.
39אֶמְחָצֵם וְלֹא־יֻכְלוּ קוּם יִפְּלוּ תַּחַת רַגְלָֽיI struck them down, and they could rise no more; they lay at my feet.
40וַתְּאַזְּרֵנִי חַיִל לַמִּלְחָמָה תַּכְרִיעַ קָמַי תַּחְתָּֽיYou have girded me with strength for battle, brought low my adversaries before me,
41וְֽאֹיְבַי נָתַתָּה לִּי עֹרֶף וּמְשַׂנְאַי אַצְמִיתֵֽםmade my enemies turn tail before me; I wiped out my foes.
42יְשַׁוְּעוּ וְאֵין־מוֹשִׁיעַ עַל־יְהֹוָה וְלֹא עָנָֽםThey cried out, but there was none to deliver; to GOD, who did not answer them.
43וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵם כְּעָפָר עַל־פְּנֵי־רוּחַ כְּטִיט חוּצוֹת אֲרִיקֵֽםI ground them fine as windswept dust; I trod them flat like dirt of the streets.
44תְּפַלְּטֵנִי מֵרִיבֵי עָם תְּשִׂימֵנִי לְרֹאשׁ גּוֹיִם עַם לֹא־יָדַעְתִּי יַֽעַבְדֽוּנִיYou have rescued me from the strife of people; You have set me at the head of nations; peoples I knew not must serve me.
45לְשֵׁמַֽע אֹזֶן יִשָּׁמְעוּ לִי בְּנֵֽי־נֵכָר יְכַחֲשׁוּ־לִֽיAt the mere report of me they are submissive; foreign peoples cower before me.
46בְּנֵי־נֵכָר יִבֹּלוּ וְיַחְרְגוּ מִֽמִּסְגְּרֽוֹתֵיהֶֽםForeign peoples lose courage, and come trembling out of their strongholds.
47חַי־יְהֹוָה וּבָרוּךְ צוּרִי וְיָרוּם אֱלוֹהֵי יִשְׁעִֽיGOD lives! Blessed is my rock! Exalted be God, my deliverer,
48הָאֵל הַנּוֹתֵן נְקָמוֹת לִי וַיַּדְבֵּר עַמִּים תַּחְתָּֽיthe God who has vindicated me and made peoples subject to me,
49מְפַלְּטִי מֵאֹיְבָי אַף מִן־קָמַי תְּרוֹמְמֵנִי מֵאִישׁ חָמָס תַּצִּילֵֽנִיwho rescued me from my enemies, who raised me clear of my adversaries, saved me from the lawless opposition!
50עַל־כֵּן אוֹדְךָ בַגּוֹיִם יְהֹוָה וּלְשִׁמְךָ אֲזַמֵּֽרָהFor this I sing Your praise among the nations, ETERNAL One, and hymn Your name:
51מַגְדִּל יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד לִמְשִׁיחוֹ לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽםAccording great victories to Your king, keeping faith with Your anointed, with David and his offspring evermore.