David’s Song of Deliverance
(Psalm 18:1–50)

1  וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (And spoke) דָּוִד֙ (David) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (to YHWH) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֖י (the words) הַשִּׁירָ֣ה (of the song) הַזֹּ֑את (this) בְּיוֹם֩ (on the day) הִצִּ֨יל (when had delivered) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֹת֛וֹ (him) מִכַּ֥ף (from the hand) כָּל־ (of all) אֹיְבָ֖יו (his enemies) וּמִכַּ֥ף (and from the hand) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (of Saul). 2  וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (And he said):

יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH is) סַֽלְעִ֥י (my rock)

וּמְצֻדָתִ֖י (and stronghold) וּמְפַלְטִי־ (and rescuer) לִֽי׃ (to me).

3  אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) צוּרִ֖י (is my rock), אֶחֱסֶה־ (I will take refuge) בּ֑וֹ (in Him)

מָגִנִּ֞י (my shield) וְקֶ֣רֶן (and the horn) יִשְׁעִ֗י (of my salvation),

מִשְׂגַּבִּי֙ (my stronghold) וּמְנוּסִ֔י (and my refuge), מֹשִׁעִ֕י (my Savior);

מֵחָמָ֖ס (from violence) תֹּשִׁעֵֽנִי׃ (You save me).

4  מְהֻלָּ֖ל (Who is to be praised), אֶקְרָ֣א (I will call upon) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH);

וּמֵאֹיְבַ֖י (and from my enemies) אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃ (I shall be saved).

5  כִּ֥י (For) אֲפָפֻ֖נִי (surrounded me) מִשְׁבְּרֵי־ (the waves) מָ֑וֶת (of death),

נַחֲלֵ֥י (the floods) בְלִיַּ֖עַל (of ungodliness) יְבַעֲתֻֽנִי׃ (terrified me),

6  חֶבְלֵ֥י (the sorrows) שְׁא֖וֹל (of Sheol) סַבֻּ֑נִי (surrounded me),

קִדְּמֻ֖נִי (confronted me) מֹֽקְשֵׁי־ (the snares) מָֽוֶת׃ (of death).

7  בַּצַּר־ (In distress) לִי֙ (my) אֶקְרָ֣א (I called upon) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH),

וְאֶל־ (and to) אֱלֹהַ֖י (my God) אֶקְרָ֑א (I cried out),

וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע (and He heard) מֵהֵֽיכָלוֹ֙ (from His temple) קוֹלִ֔י (my voice),

וְשַׁוְעָתִ֖י (and my cry) בְּאָזְנָֽיו׃ (is in His ears).

8  וַתִּגְעַשׁ (And shook) וַתִּרְעַשׁ֙ (and trembled) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the earth),

מוֹסְד֥וֹת (the foundations) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (of the heavens) יִרְגָּ֑זוּ (quaked).

וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ (And they were shaken), כִּֽי־ (because) חָ֥רָה (was hot) לֽוֹ׃ (He).

9  עָלָ֤ה (Went up) עָשָׁן֙ (smoke) בְּאַפּ֔וֹ (from His nostrils),

וְאֵ֥שׁ (and fire) מִפִּ֖יו (from His mouth) תֹּאכֵ֑ל (consuming);

גֶּחָלִ֖ים (glowing coals) בָּעֲר֥וּ (were kindled) מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (by it).

10  וַיֵּ֥ט (And He stretched out) שָׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens) וַיֵּרַ֑ד (and came down),

וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל (and darkness) תַּ֥חַת (was under) רַגְלָֽיו׃ (His feet).

11  וַיִּרְכַּ֥ב (And He rode) עַל־ (upon) כְּר֖וּב (a cherub) וַיָּעֹ֑ף (and flew),

וַיֵּרָ֖א (and He was seen) עַל־ (on) כַּנְפֵי־ (the wings) רֽוּחַ׃ (of the wind).

12  וַיָּ֥שֶׁת (And He made) חֹ֛שֶׁךְ (darkness) סְבִיבֹתָ֖יו (around Him) סֻכּ֑וֹת (as a covering),

חַֽשְׁרַת־ (darkness) מַ֖יִם (of waters), עָבֵ֥י (thick clouds) שְׁחָקִֽים׃ (of the skies).

13  מִנֹּ֖גַהּ (From the brightness) נֶגְדּ֑וֹ (before Him)

בָּעֲר֖וּ (blazed forth) גַּחֲלֵי־ (coals) אֵֽשׁ׃ (of fire).

14  יַרְעֵ֥ם (Thundered) מִן־ (from) שָׁמַ֖יִם (the heavens) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH),

וְעֶלְי֖וֹן (and the Most High) יִתֵּ֥ן (gave forth) קוֹלֽוֹ׃ (His voice).

15  וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (And He sent out) חִצִּ֖ים (arrows) וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם (and scattered them),

בָּרָ֖ק (lightning), וַיְהֻמֵּם׃ (and He vanquished them).

16  וַיֵּֽרָאוּ֙ (And were seen) אֲפִ֣קֵי (the channels) יָ֔ם (of the sea);

יִגָּל֖וּ (were uncovered) מֹסְד֣וֹת (the foundations) תֵּבֵ֑ל (of the world)

בְּגַעֲרַ֣ת (at the rebuke) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

מִנִּשְׁמַ֖ת (at the blast) ר֥וּחַ (of the breath) אַפּֽוֹ׃ (of His nostrils).

17  יִשְׁלַ֥ח (He sent) מִמָּר֖וֹם (from above), יִקָּחֵ֑נִי (He took me);

יַֽמְשֵׁ֖נִי (He drew me) מִמַּ֥יִם (out of waters) רַבִּֽים׃ (many).

18  יַצִּילֵ֕נִי (He snatched me up) מֵאֹיְבִ֖י (from my enemy) עָ֑ז (strong),

מִשֹּׂ֣נְאַ֔י (from those who hated me), כִּ֥י (for) אָמְצ֖וּ (they were too strong) מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (for me),

19  יְקַדְּמֻ֖נִי (they confronted me) בְּי֣וֹם (in the day) אֵידִ֑י (of my calamity),

וַיְהִ֧י (and was) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) מִשְׁעָ֖ן (support) לִֽי׃ (to me).

20  וַיֹּצֵ֥א (And He brought out) לַמֶּרְחָ֖ב (into a broad place) אֹתִ֑י (me);

יְחַלְּצֵ֖נִי (He delivered me) כִּי־ (because) חָ֥פֵֽץ (He delighted) בִּֽי׃ (in me).

21  יִגְמְלֵ֥נִי (Rewarded me) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י (according to my righteousness),

כְּבֹ֥ר (according to the cleanness) יָדַ֖י (of my hands) יָשִׁ֥יב (He has repaid) לִֽי׃ (to me).

22  כִּ֥י (For) שָׁמַ֖רְתִּי (I have kept) דַּרְכֵ֣י (the ways) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH),

וְלֹ֥א (and not) רָשַׁ֖עְתִּי (done wickedly) מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃ (against my God).

23  כִּ֥י (For) כָל־ (all) מִשְׁפָּטוֹ (His ordinances) לְנֶגְדִּ֑י (are before me)

וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו (and His statutes), לֹא־ (not) אָס֥וּר (I have turned away) מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ (from them).

24  וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה (And I was) תָמִ֖ים (blameless) ל֑וֹ (before Him),

וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָ֖ה (and I kept myself) מֵעֲוֺנִֽי׃ (from my iniquity).

25  וַיָּ֧שֶׁב (Therefore has repaid) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) לִ֖י (me) כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י (according to my righteousness),

כְּבֹרִ֖י (according to my cleanness) לְנֶ֥גֶד (before) עֵינָֽיו׃ (His eyes).

26  עִם־ (With) חָסִ֖יד (the kind) תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד (You show Yourself kind),

עִם־ (with) גִּבּ֥וֹר (a man) תָּמִ֖ים (blameless) תִּתַּמָּֽם׃ (You show Yourself blameless),

27  עִם־ (with) נָבָ֖ר (the pure) תִּתָּבָ֑ר (You show Yourself pure),

וְעִם־ (and with) עִקֵּ֖שׁ (the crooked) תִּתַּפָּֽל׃ (You show Yourself shrewd).

28  וְאֶת־ (And) עַ֥ם (the people) עָנִ֖י (humble) תּוֹשִׁ֑יעַ (You will save),

וְעֵינֶ֖יךָ (and Your eyes are) עַל־ (on) רָמִ֥ים (the haughty), תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃ (to bring them down).

29  כִּֽי־ (For) אַתָּ֥ה (You are) נֵירִ֖י (my lamp), יְהוָ֑ה (O YHWH).

וַיהוָ֖ה (And YHWH) יַגִּ֥יהַּ (shall enlighten) חָשְׁכִּֽי׃ (my darkness).

30  כִּ֥י (For) בְכָ֖ה (by You) אָר֣וּץ (I can run against) גְּד֑וּד (a troop);

בֵּאלֹהַ֖י (by my God) אֲדַלֶּג־ (I can leap over) שֽׁוּר׃ (a wall).

31  הָאֵ֖ל (As for God), תָּמִ֣ים (perfect) דַּרְכּ֑וֹ (His way is);

אִמְרַ֤ת (the word) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) צְרוּפָ֔ה (is refined);

מָגֵ֣ן (a shield) ה֔וּא (He is)

לְכֹ֖ל (to all) הַחֹסִ֥ים (who take refuge) בּֽוֹ׃ (in Him).

32  כִּ֥י (For) מִי־ (who is) אֵ֖ל (God), מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י (except) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH)?

וּמִ֥י (And who is) צ֖וּר (a rock), מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֥י (except) אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (our God)?

33  הָאֵ֥ל (God is) מָעוּזִּ֖י (is my stronghold) חָ֑יִל (of strength),

וַיַּתֵּ֥ר (and He makes) תָּמִ֖ים (perfect) דַּרְכּוֹ׃ (my way).

34  מְשַׁוֶּ֥ה (He makes) רַגְלָיו (my feet) כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת (like those of a deer)

וְעַ֥ל (and on) בָּמוֹתַ֖י (my high places) יַעֲמִדֵֽנִי׃ (He sets me).

35  מְלַמֵּ֥ד (He teaches) יָדַ֖י (my hands) לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (for war),

וְנִחַ֥ת (and can bend) קֶֽשֶׁת־ (a bow) נְחוּשָׁ֖ה (of bronze) זְרֹעֹתָֽי׃ (my arms).

36  וַתִּתֶּן־ (And You have given) לִ֖י (me) מָגֵ֣ן (the shield) יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ (of Your salvation),

וַעֲנֹתְךָ֖ (and Your gentleness) תַּרְבֵּֽנִי׃ (has made me great).

37  תַּרְחִ֥יב (You enlarged) צַעֲדִ֖י (my path) תַּחְתֵּ֑נִי (under me),

וְלֹ֥א (and not) מָעֲד֖וּ (did slip) קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃ (my feet).

38  אֶרְדְּפָ֥ה (I have pursued) אֹיְבַ֖י (my enemies) וָאַשְׁמִידֵ֑ם (and destroyed them),

וְלֹ֥א (and neither) אָשׁ֖וּב (I did turn back again) עַד־ (until) כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃ (they were consumed).

39  וָאֲכַלֵּ֥ם (And I have destroyed them) וָאֶמְחָצֵ֖ם (and wounded them), וְלֹ֣א (so that not) יְקוּמ֑וּן (they could rise),

וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ (and they have fallen) תַּ֥חַת (under) רַגְלָֽי׃ (my feet).

40  וַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי (And You have girded me) חַ֖יִל (with strength) לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (for the battle);

תַּכְרִ֥יעַ (You have subdued) קָמַ֖י (those who rose against me) תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃ (under me).

41  וְאֹ֣יְבַ֔י (And of my enemies) תַּ֥תָּה (You have given) לִּ֖י (me) עֹ֑רֶף (the necks),

מְשַׂנְאַ֖י (of those who hated me), וָאַצְמִיתֵֽם׃ (and I destroyed them).

42  יִשְׁע֖וּ (They looked), וְאֵ֣ין (and there was none) מֹשִׁ֑יעַ (to save),

אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), וְלֹ֥א (not) עָנָֽם׃ (He did answer them).

43  וְאֶשְׁחָקֵ֖ם (And I beat them) כַּעֲפַר־ (as fine as the dust) אָ֑רֶץ (of the earth),

כְּטִיט־ (like dirt in) חוּצ֥וֹת (the streets) אֲדִקֵּ֖ם (I crushed them), אֶרְקָעֵֽם׃ (and trampled them).

44  וַֽתְּפַלְּטֵ֔נִי (And You have rescueed me) מֵרִיבֵ֖י (from the strife) עַמִּ֑י (of my people),

תִּשְׁמְרֵ֙נִי֙ (You have kept me) לְרֹ֣אשׁ (as the head) גּוֹיִ֔ם (of the nations);

עַ֥ם (a people) לֹא־ (not) יָדַ֖עְתִּי (I have known) יַעַבְדֻֽנִי׃ (shall serve me).

45  בְּנֵ֥י (Sons) נֵכָ֖ר (of a foreigner) יִתְכַּֽחֲשׁוּ־ (submit) לִ֑י (to me);

לִשְׁמ֥וֹעַ (at the hearing) אֹ֖זֶן (of an ear), יִשָּׁ֥מְעוּ (they listen) לִֽי׃ (to me).

46  בְּנֵ֥י (Sons) נֵכָ֖ר (of a foreigner) יִבֹּ֑לוּ (fade away),

וְיַחְגְּר֖וּ (and gird themselves) מִמִּסְגְּרוֹתָֽם׃ (from their strongholds).

47  חַי־ (Lives) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) וּבָר֣וּךְ (and blessed be) צוּרִ֑י (my Rock),

וְיָרֻ֕ם (and may be exalted) אֱלֹהֵ֖י (God) צ֥וּר (the Rock) יִשְׁעִֽי׃ (of my salvation).

48  הָאֵ֕ל (It is God) הַנֹּתֵ֥ן (who gives) נְקָמֹ֖ת (vengeance) לִ֑י (to me)

וּמוֹרִ֥יד (and subdues) עַמִּ֖ים (the peoples) תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃ (under me),

49  וּמוֹצִיאִ֖י (and He delivers me) מֵאֹֽיְבָ֑י (from my enemies);

וּמִקָּמַי֙ (and those who rise against me) תְּר֣וֹמְמֵ֔נִי (You lift me up above),

מֵאִ֥ישׁ (from the man) חֲמָסִ֖ים (of violence) תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃ (You deliver me).

50  עַל־ (Upon) כֵּ֛ן (thus) אוֹדְךָ֥ (I will confess You) יְהוָ֖ה (O YHWH) בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם (among the Gentiles),

וּלְשִׁמְךָ֖ (and to Your name) אֲזַמֵּֽר׃ (I will sing praises).

51  מַגְדִּיל (Great) יְשׁוּע֣וֹת (salvation) מַלְכּ֑וֹ (is to His king),

וְעֹֽשֶׂה־ (and He shows) חֶ֧סֶד (loving devotion) לִמְשִׁיח֛וֹ (to His anointed),

לְדָוִ֥ד (to David) וּלְזַרְע֖וֹ (and to his seed), עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃פ (forever).