1 David spoke to the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer} the words of this song {hashirah: victory anthem} on the day the LORD {YHWH, Rescuer} brought him safe out of the grasp of all his enemies and from Saul’s grasp.
2 He said: “The LORD {YHWH, Refuge Defender} is my rock {sal'i: immovable strength}, my fortress, and my deliverer.”
3 My God {Elohei, Personal Defender} is my rock; in Him I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation {yish‘i: deliverance}, my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior—You save me from violence.
4 I call on the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer}—the One worthy of praise {mehullal: celebrated status}—and I am saved from my enemies.
5 For the waves {mishberei: overwhelming breakers} of death closed around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me {yeva'atuni: filled with dread}.
6 The cords of Sheol {sheol: grave realm} surrounded me; the snares of death {mavet: mortal end} confronted me.
7 In my distress I called to the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer}; to my God {Elohai, Personal Rescuer} I cried. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry reached His ears.
8 The earth quaked and shook; the foundations {yesodot: foundational supports} of the heavens trembled and quaked, because He {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} was angry.
9 Smoke {ashan: symbol of wrath} rose from His {YHWH, Divine Avenger} nostrils, and fire devoured from His mouth; coals blazed out from Him.
10 He {YHWH, Divine Warrior} bowed the heavens and came down, and thick darkness was under His feet {raglav: place of presence}.
11 He {YHWH, Divine Rider} mounted a cherub and flew; He appeared on the wings of the wind {ruach: moving breath}.
12 He {YHWH, Shelter Creator} set darkness {choshekh: veiled obscurity} around Him as shelters—dark waters and thick skies.
13 From the brightness {minnogah: radiant splendor} in front of Him {YHWH, Triumphant King}, coals of fire blazed up.
14 The LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Revealer} thundered from the heavens, and the Most High {elyon: Supreme One} sounded His voice.
15 He {YHWH, Divine Warrior} shot out arrows and scattered them; lightning {barak: flashing bolt} dismayed and confused them.
16 Then the channels of the sea came into view, and the foundations of the world were uncovered at the LORD’s {YHWH, Supreme Commander} rebuke, at the blast of the breath {ruach: life force} from His nostrils.
17 He {YHWH, Supreme Deliverer} reached down from on high and took me; He drew me out of many waters {mayim: overwhelming flood}.
18 He {YHWH, Divine Deliverer} rescued me from my mighty enemy {oyev: powerful adversary} and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
19 They met me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Protector} became my support {mishan: Steadfast Help}.
20 He {YHWH, Rescuer} brought me out into a spacious place {merchav: open refuge}; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
21 The LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} has repaid me according to my righteousness {tsidkati: just conduct}; according to the cleanness of my hands, He has rewarded me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Guide} and have not acted wickedly {rashati: done evil} by turning from my God.
23 For all His {YHWH, Authoritative Judge} judgments are before me, and I did not depart from His statutes {chukotav: prescribed boundaries}.
24 And I was blameless {tamim: without moral defect} before Him {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, and I guarded myself from my iniquity.
25 So the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Rewarder} repaid me according to my righteousness {tsidkati: just conduct}, according to my cleanness before His eyes.
26 With the faithful one {chasid: covenant-loyal figure}, You show Yourself faithful, and with the blameless one {tamim: without moral defect}, You show Yourself blameless.
27 With the pure, You {YHWH, Moral Arbiter} show Yourself pure; but with the crooked {ikkesh: morally twisted}, You show Yourself contrary.
28 You {YHWH, Protector of the Meek} save the humble {ani: the lowly} people, but Your eyes are on the proud to bring them low.
29 For You are my lamp {neir: source of illumination}, LORD {YHWH, Light Giver}; and the LORD will make my darkness shine.
30 For by You {YHWH, Mighty Protector} I run at a troop, and by my God I leap over a wall {shur: fortified barrier}.
31 God {El, Supreme Sovereign}—His way is perfect; the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant-Keeper} is refined. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32 For who is God {el: Mighty One} except the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Redeemer}? And who is a rock {tsur: Secure Stronghold} except our God {elohenu, Covenant Keeper}?
33 God {El, Empowering Protector} is my strong refuge and my strength, and He makes my way blameless {tamim: morally complete}.
34 He makes my feet like a deer {ka’ayalot: swift-footed creatures}, and He makes me stand on my high places {bamotai: personal elevations}.
35 He {YHWH, Divine Trainer} trains my hands for battle, so that my arms {zero'otai: physical strength} can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You {YHWH, Shield-Giver} gave me the shield of Your salvation {yisha: deliverance}, and Your gentleness makes me great.
37 You {YHWH, Upholder} make my step {tsaadi: movement unit} wide beneath me, and my ankles did not slip.
38 I pursued {erdefah: resolute pursuit} my enemies and destroyed them, and I did not turn back until they were finished off {kallotam: complete consumption}.
39 I consumed {akal: comprehensive destruction} them and crushed them, and they could not rise; they fell beneath {tachat: underfoot subjugation} my feet.
40 You {YHWH, Strength-Giver} girded me with strength {hayil: might and valor} for battle; you caused my adversaries to bow beneath me.
41 You {YHWH, Warrior Deliverer} gave me the necks of my enemies {oyevai: persistent adversaries}, and I destroyed those who hate me.
42 They looked around for help, but there was no one who could save; they turned to the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Arbiter}, but He did not answer {ʿānām: gave a reply} them.
43 And I crushed them like the dust {afar: fine powder} of the earth; like the mud of the streets {hutzot: public paths} I pounded them, trampled them, and spread them out.
44 You {YHWH, Deliverer From Strife} delivered me from the quarrelers {merivei: internal foes} of my people; You kept me as head over nations. A people I did not know now serves me.
45 Sons of foreigners {nekar: outsiders} will feign obedience {yitkachashu: pretend submission} to me; when they hear of it, they will obey me.
46 Sons of foreigners will lose heart, and they will come trembling {chagar: come out trembling} out of their strongholds {misgerot: fortified enclosures}.
47 The LORD {YHWH, Living Redeemer} lives; blessed is my Rock {tsur: Immovable Support}; and exalted is the God who is the rock of my salvation.
48 God {El, Divine Avenger} grants vengeances for me and brings down peoples {ammim: national groups} under me.
49 You {YHWH, Divine Rescuer} bring me out from my enemies; from those who rise up against me you lift me up; from violent men {hamasim: men marked by wrongdoing} You deliver me.
50 Therefore I will praise You, LORD {YHWH, Praise Receiver}, among the nations, and to Your name I will sing psalms {azammer: joyful musical praise}.