(§ 12.) spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and 2 out of the hand of Saul and he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, [even mine ;] 3 The God of my rock, in him will I trust; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, [and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence.] 4 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised : So shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5 [For] the waves of death compassed B. Psalm 18. Το [For the Chief Musician.] David [the servant of the LORD, who] spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: and he said, 1 [I love thee, O LORD, my strength.] 2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer ; My God, my rock, in him will I trust; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. § 12.-NOTE.-There are a number of minute variations discernible in the Hebrew when collating B. with A. B. is inclined to the full vocalization, e. g. in the word 'fortress,' which would have been better rendered 'stronghold,' as in 2 Sam. 5. 7, &c. The omissions are numerous. Some of the variations are deliberate; others the substitution of letters which resemble one another, as and, and 1, and 2,7 and . Consult LXX throughout. The heading of the Psalm is apparently taken from A., with a slight addition at the beginning. a A. . B. 7. © A. D. B. —¡D. אלי B אלהי A • 11 And he rode upon a cherub, and 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly : Yea, he was seen d upon the wings of the wind. did fly: Yea, he flew swiftly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness [his hiding place, his] pavilion round about him; Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 13 At the brightness before him. . 12 At the brightness before him [his [were kindled.] 14 The LORD the heavens, Coals of fire thundered from And the Most High uttered his voice. thick clouds passed, Hailstones and] coals of fire. 13 The LORD [also] thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice; [Hailstones and coals of fire.] arrows, and 14 And he sent out [his] arrows, and 16 Then the channels of the sea 15 Then the channels of waters of my calamity : But the LORD was my stay. 20 He brought me forth also into 19 He brought me forth also into a large place: a large place; d A. . B. 7. The substitution of for 7, and vice versa, one of the most common of variations. The LXX retains the two texts. B. navn. Both forms peculiar. The LXX follows B. A. 2 Sam. 22. (Continued.) He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. B. Psalm 18. (Continued.) He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgements were 22 For all his judgements were before me : And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also perfect toward him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity. before me, And I put not away his statutes from me. 23 I was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity. 25 Therefore hath the Lord recom- 24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness; According to my cleanness in his eyesight. pensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness [of my hands] in his eyesight. 26 With the merciful thou wilt shew 25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, With the perfect man thou wilt shew thyself perfect; 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt shew thyself froward 1. thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt shew thyself perfect; 26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt shew thyself froward. 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted save: But thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. people; But the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down. 29 For thou art my lamp, [O LORD,] 28 For thou wilt light my lamp: The LORD [my God] will lighten my darkness. 29 For by thee I run upon a troop; [And] by my God do I leap over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the LORD is tried ; He is a shield unto all them that trust in him. 31 For who is God, save the LORD? And who is a rock, beside our God? 32 [The] God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect. 1 Note the Hebrew spelling. A. N. A. . . . k The Hebrew very similar. .אסיר .B .אסור .h A תתפתל .B אלוה .B .אל mA .ויתן .B .ויתר .A : n זולתי .B .מבלעדי .A .המאזרני .B .מעוזי .A • A. 2 Sam. 22. (Continued.) B. Psalm 18. (Continued.) 34 He maketh his feet like hinds' 33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: And setteth me upon my high places. 35 He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass. feet: And setteth me upon my high places. 34 He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass. 36 Thou hast also given me the 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation : And thy gentleness hath made me great. 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. 38 I have pursued a mine enemies, and destroyed them; Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 39 [And I have consumed them, and] smitten them through, that they cannot rise: [Yea,] they are fallen under my feet. shield of thy salvation : [And thy right hand hath holden 40 For thou hast girded me with 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: 41 Thou hast also made mine ene-40 mies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me. strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me. 42 They lookeds, but there was none to 41 They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. save: Even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 43 Then did I beat them small as the 42 Then did I beat them small as the 44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me: The strangers shall submit themselves unto me. 45 The strangers shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places. 47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be 46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine 48 He rescueth me from mine of David is spelled in B. as in A. at the beginning and end of the Psalms, not in the Chronicler's way, which is presumably the later spelling. This fact leads to the conclusion that the recension of the Psalm dates from a comparatively early time. |