0 To the Chief Musician. Of David, the servant of the LORD {YHWH, Saving Master}, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song {shirah: victory hymn} on the day the LORD delivered him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
1 I love You, LORD {YHWH, Strength Giver}, my strength {khizqi: source of power}.
2 The LORD {YHWH, Steadfast Refuge} is my rock {sela: firm foundation}, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God {Elohim, Sovereign Defender}, my rock—in Him I will take refuge—my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer} who is worthy to be praised {mehullal: highly exalted}, and I will be saved from my enemies.
4 The cords {chevlei: binding ropes} of death surrounded me, and the torrents of worthlessness {beliyaal: utter destruction} terrified me.
5 The cords of Sheol {she'ol: realm of death} surrounded me; the snares of death {mavet: universal mortality} confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer}, and to my God I cried out for help. He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him into His ears {oznav: attentive reception}.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations {umosdei: foundational pillars} of the mountains also trembled and were shaken, because He {YHWH, Righteous Judge} was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His {YHWH, Righteous Judge} nostrils, and fire from His mouth devours {tokhel: consumes completely}; coals burned from Him.
9 And He {YHWH, Supreme Ruler} bent the heavens and descended, and thick darkness {arafel: dense cloud} was under His feet.
10 And He {YHWH, Majestic Rider} rode upon a cherub, and He flew; indeed, He soared upon the wings of the wind {ruach: powerful breath}.
11 He {YHWH, Concealing One} made darkness His covering {choshekh: obscurity}; His surroundings and His canopy were the darkness of the waters and the thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness{nogah: radiant splendor} before Him{YHWH, Thunderous Judge}, His clouds passed on—hail and coals of fire.
13 And the LORD {YHWH, Voice of Judgment} thundered in the heavens, and the Most High {ʿelyon, Supreme Sovereign} gave his voice—hail stones and coals-of-fire {gachalei-esh: burning embers}.
14 And He {YHWH, Divine Warrior} sent out His arrows and scattered them; He hurled many lightnings {berakim: bolts of lightning} and confounded them.
15 Then the channels of the waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered at Your rebuke, O LORD {YHWH, Supreme Judge}, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils {apecha: fierce anger}.
16 He {YHWH, Mighty Rescuer} sent from on high and took me; He drew me out of many waters {mayim: overwhelming distress}.
17 He {YHWH, Mighty Deliverer} delivered me from my strong {az: formidable might} enemy and from those who hated me, for they were stronger than I.
18 They confronted me on the day of my calamity {eidi: disaster}, but the LORD {YHWH, Support and Refuge} was a support for me.
19 And He{YHWH, Faithful Preserver} brought me out to a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted{chafetz: took pleasure} in me.
20 The LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} rewards me according to my righteousness {ketsidqi: just conduct}; according to the cleanness of my hands He has repaid me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Guide} and have not acted wickedly {rashati: done evil} away from my God {Elohim, Covenant Sustainer}.
22 For all His judgments {mishpatav: legal decisions} are before me, and I do not turn aside from His statutes {chukotav: fixed ordinances}.
23 I was blameless with Him {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, and I kept myself from my iniquity {avon: moral wrongdoing}.
24 And the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Rewarder} has repaid me according to my righteousness {ketsidqi: just character}, according to the cleanness of my hands before His eyes.
25 With the merciful {chasid: faithful one}, You {YHWH, Faithful Rewarder} show Yourself merciful; with the blameless man, You show Yourself blameless.
26 With the pure You {’attah, Reciprocal Justice} show Yourself pure, and with the crooked {iqesh: Moral Distortion} You show Yourself twisted.
27 For You {YHWH, Compassionate Sustainer} save the afflicted {ani: humble and needy}, but You bring down the proud gaze.
28 For You will light my lamp {neri: guiding light}; the LORD my God {YHWH Elohai, Sovereign Illuminator} will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You {becha: Divine Enabler} I run through a troop, and by my God {Elohai, Strength Giver} I leap over a wall.
30 The God {El, Perfect Guide}—His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is refined {tzerufah: purified}. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God except the LORD {YHWH, Unique Deliverer}? And who is a rock except our God {eloheinu: strong protector}?
32 The God {El, Strength Giver} who girds me with strength and gives me a blameless {tamim: complete without fault} way.
33 He {YHWH, Upholder of Stability} makes my feet like the feet of a deer {ka'ayalot: sure-footed does}, and upon my high places He sets me.
34 He{YHWH Elohim, Skillful Instructor} teaches my hands for battle{milchamah: organized conflict}, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 And You {atah, Protector Upholder} gave me shield {magen: strong defense} of Your salvation, and Your right hand sustains me, and Your gentleness makes me great.
36 You {YHWH, Sustaining Guardian} make my steps wide beneath me, and my ankles {kersullai: lower joints connecting feet and legs} did not slip.
37 I will pursue {erdof: relentless pursuit} my enemies and overtake them, and I will not turn back until they are consumed {kallotam: total destruction}.
38 I have crushed them {adakhtsem: forceful defeat} so that they were no longer able to rise, and they have fallen {yenaflu: laid low} under my feet.
39 You {YHWH, Empowering Warrior} girded me with strength for the battle {milchamah: armed contest}; You made those who rose against me bow down under me.
40 And You gave me the neck {oref: back of the neck} of my enemies, and You destroyed {hitsmitem: total elimination} those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was no savior {moshiaʿ: deliverer}; unto the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} they cried, but He did not answer them.
42 And I pulverized them like dust upon the face of the wind; like mud of the streets {chutzot: public thoroughfares} I emptied {arikem: completely scattered} them.
43 You {YHWH, Protector} delivered me from the quarrels of the people; you made me head over the nations {goyim: foreign peoples}. A people whom I did not know will serve me.
44 As soon as they hear {shema: report} of me, they will heed me; sons of foreigners will submit {khachash: false compliance} to me.
45 The sons of foreigners {nekar: enemy outsiders} will fade away, and they will come trembling out of their enclosures {misgerot: fortified strongholds}.
46 The LORD {YHWH, Living Deliverer} lives; blessed is my rock {tzur: sure foundation}; and let the God {Elohei: Faithful Rescuer} of my salvation be exalted.
47 God {El, Powerful Avenger} gives me vengeance and subdues peoples {ammim: resistant nations} under me.
48 The one who delivers me from my enemies—You {YHWH, Exalting Deliverer} also lift me high above those who rise against me; from the man of violence {hamas: moral wrongdoing}, You rescue me.
49 Therefore I will thank You, O LORD {YHWH, Deliverer}, among the nations, and to Your name I will sing praises {azammerah: joyful singing}.
50 Greatly He {YHWH, Victory-Giving Lord} magnifies deliverances for His king, and He shows steadfast love {chesed: Loyal Mercy} to His anointed, to David, and to his offspring, forever.