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v1
Then David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song, ^[This same song is recorded in Psa 18, with minor differences] on the day Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
v2
And he said: “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
v3
I take refuge in God, my rock, ^[So many LXX mss, Targum, Vulgate, and Psa 18:3. MT has “the God of my rock”] my shield, and the strength ^[Literally “horn”] of my salvation. My stronghold and my refuge, O my savior, you will save me from violence!
v4
I call upon Yahweh who is praiseworthy, and I am saved from those who hate me.
v5
For the breaker waves of death engulfed me; the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.
v6
The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
v7
In my distress I called upon Yahweh, and to my God I called. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help was to his ears.
v8
The earth heaved and shook, the foundations of heaven trembled and heaved because he was angry. ^[Literally “it was hot for him”]
v9
Smoke went up from his nostrils and fire from his mouth. Burning coals devoured, they burned from him.
v10
He bowed the heavens and came down; a very thick cloud was under his feet.
v11
He rode upon a cherub and flew; he was seen on the wings of the wind.
v12
He put darkness as a canopy all around him, a collection of thick rain clouds. ^[Literally “clouds of thick clouds”]
v13
From the brightness before him flamed burning coals of fire.
v14
Yahweh thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice. ^[Literally “gave his voice”]
v15
He sent arrows and he scattered them, lightning, and he directed them.
v16
Then the channels of water of the sea were exposed, the foundations of the world, at the rebuke of Yawheh, from the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
v17
He sent from a high position and took me; he drew me from mighty waters.
v18
He delivered me from my strong enemies, from those who hate me, for they were mightier than I.
v19
They approached me on the day of my disaster, but Yahweh was my support.
v20
He brought me out to a spacious place. He delivered me because he delighted in me.
v21
Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.
v22
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh; I have not acted wickedly against my God.
v23
For all of his ordinances were before me, and I did not turn aside from his statutes.
v24
I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.
v25
Yahweh has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness before his eyes.
v26
With the loyal, you act as loyal, and with the blameless, you show yourself blameless.
v27
With the pure, you show yourself pure, but with the crooked, you appear as a fool.
v28
Humble people you will deliver, but your eyes are on the haughty, whom you bring down.
v29
For you, O Yahweh are my lamp, and Yahweh lightens my darkness.
v30
For by you I can run a raid; by my God I can leap over a wall.
v31
This God, his way is blameless; the promise of Yahweh is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
v32
For who is God apart from Yahweh? And who is a rock apart from our God?
v33
God is my strong refuge, he has fully opened my way. ^[Thus Qere; Kethib has “his way”]
v34
He makes my feet ^[Thus Qere; Kethib has “his feet”] like a doe deer, and on my high places he has set me.
v35
He trains my hands for the war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
v36
You have given me the shield of your salvation; your willingness to help has made me great.
v37
You have broadened my steps beneath me; my ankles have not wobbled.
v38
I pursued those who hate me, and I destroyed them. I did not turn back until finishing them.
v39
I wiped them out and I smashed them; they did not get up; they fell under my feet.
v40
You have girded me with physical strength for the battle; you caused those who rose up against me to kneel under me.
v41
My enemies you cause to retreat from me; ^[Literally “Those who hate me you give to me back”] I destroy those who hate me.
v42
They looked out, but there was no deliverer, even to Yahweh, but he did not answer them.
v43
I beat them fine, like the dust of the earth; like the mire of the streets, I crushed them, I stamped them down.
v44
You delivered me from the strife of my people; you preserved me as the head of the nations. A people I had not known served me.
v45
Children of a foreign land came cringing to me; when they heard of me, ^[Literally “at the hearing of an ear”] they became obedient to me.
v46
Children of a foreign land lost heart and came trembling from their strongholds.
v47
Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! May God, the rock of my salvation, be exalted!
v48
God does vengeance for me, bringing down peoples under me.
v49
He brings me out from my enemies, and from those who rose up against me you lift me up, and from men of violence you rescue me.
v50
Therefore I will extol you, Yahweh, among the nations! I will sing praises to your name!
v51
He makes great salvation for his king and shows loyal love to his anointed one, David and to his descendants forever.”