HarperCollins Study Bible, page 208
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
7Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
8Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9He bowed the heavens, and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10He rode on a cherub, and flew;
he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his covering around him,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
12Out of the brightness before him
there broke through his clouds
hailstones and coals of fire.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice.a
14And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them.
15Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16He reached down from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of mighty waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy,
and from those who hated me;
for they were too mighty for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity;
but the LORD was my support.
19He brought me out into a broad place;
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all his ordinances were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from guilt.
24Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25With the loyal you show yourself loyal;
with the blameless you show yourself blameless;
26with the pure you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you show yourself perverse.
27For you deliver a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28It is you who light my lamp;
the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.
29By you I can crush a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30This God—his way is perfect;
the promise of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
31For who is God except the LORD?
And who is a rock besides our God?—
32the God who girded me with strength,
and made my way safe.
33He made my feet like the feet of a deer,
and set me secure on the heights.
34He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand has supported me;
your helpb has made me great.
36You gave me a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
37I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
and did not turn back until they were consumed.
38I struck them down, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
39For you girded me with strength for the battle;
you made my assailants sink under me.
40You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and those who hated me I destroyed.
41They cried for help, but there was no one to save them;
they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
42I beat them fine, like dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
43You delivered me from strife with the peoples;c
you made me head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
44As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
45Foreigners lost heart,
and came trembling out of their strongholds.
46The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation,
47the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me;
48who delivered me from my enemies;
indeed, you exalted me above my adversaries;
you delivered me from the violent.
49For this I will extol you, O LORD, among the nations,
and sing praises to your name.
50Great triumphs he gives to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
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a Gk See 2 Sam 22.14: Heb adds hailstones and coals of fire
b Or gentleness
c Gk Tg: Heb people
18.1–50 A royal psalm of thanksgiving, presumably fulfilling a vow to give thanks and praise after God has helped (see 7.17; 13.6). Although the superscription may not be historical, it suggests the circumstances in which such a song by a king would be appropriate. The psalm is found also in 2 Sam 22. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8.
18.1–3 Hymnic praise of God by heaping up metaphors to underscore God’s protecting help.
18.2 Horn of my salvation. See note on 75.4–5. Refuge. See v. 30; note on 2.10–12.
18.4–5 The near-death distress that evoked the cry to God for help.
18.5 Sheol. See note on 6.5.
18.6 From his temple…voice. See 1 Kings 8.37–40. My cry…ears. See 2 Chr 6.40; Sir 21.5 (cf. Gen 18.21; Ex 2.23–24; 3.7).
18.7–19 The appearance of God to deliver the king in trouble. The description is in typical storm-god imagery, depicting the coming of God as a mighty warrior from the cosmic abode, represented on earth by the sanctuary. The elements of nature are both disturbed and used by the Divine Warrior (cf. Ex 15; Deut 33.2–3; Judg 5.4–5; Ps 68.7–8; Hab 3.15).
18.10 Cherub, possibly a synonym for “cloud,” but also referring to the cherubim or winged figures that served as the throne of the invisible God on the ark of the covenant (1 Sam 4.4).
18.14 Arrows, i.e., flashes of lightning.
18.16 Mighty waters, a common image for terrible distress that threatens to overwhelm the sufferer (42.7; 69.1–2, 14–15; 144.7).
18.19 A broad place (cf. v. 36) is a characteristic way of describing God’s gift of salvation (31.8; 66.12; 118.5; cf. Gen 26.22).
18.20–24 Because of the moral integrity of the ruler, the enemies’ persecution has not expressed divine judgment but rather the grounds for God’s powerful help and protection (see Pss 1; 15).
18.25–29 The reason for the assertions of vv. 20–24 is that God responds appropriately to human conduct.
18.28 Light is an image for life.
18.30–45 The king gives thanks and praises God (vv. 30–31) by recounting how the Lord prepared him to fight against his enemies (vv. 32–34) and gave him power over them (vv. 35–42).
18.30 Refuge. See note on 2.10–12.
18.46–50 Concluding praise and thanksgiving.
18.49 I will extol. Cf. Rom 15.9.
18.50 The victories over enemies described in the song are here specifically said to be those of the ruler. Anointed. See note on 2.2.
PSALM 19
God’s Glory in Creation and the Law
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmamenta proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4yet their voiceb goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavensc he has set a tent for the sun,
5which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
7The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple;
8the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13Keep back your servant also from the insolent;d
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
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a Or dome
b Gk Jerome Compare Syr: Heb line
c Heb In them
d Or from proud thoughts
19.1–14 A psalm extolling God’s glory as revealed in the creation and the law (cf. Pss 1; 119). To the leader. See note on 4.1–8.
19.1–6 The glory of God proclaimed by the created order.
19.1–4b In a paradoxical way the knowledge of God is passed on, transmitted without speech or words that can be heard in the customary way. Cf. Rom 10.18.
19.4b–6 The sun is a particular manifestation of the handiwork of God and, implicitly, not itself divine. The focus is upon the regular movement of the sun across the heavens.
19.6 Nothing…heat echoes the ancient Near Eastern notion of the sun god as the god of justice, who has insight into all things, and anticipates the warning that God provides in the law.
19.7–10 God’s instruction in the law is characterized in terms of its perfection (v. 7a), reliability (v. 7b), clarity (v. 8b), righteousness (vv. 8a, 9b), and truthfulness (v. 9b), and its benefits are set forth. The latter include its enlivening (v. 7a) and illumining (vv. 7b, 8b) effects and its capacity to give joy and delight (cf. 1.2).
19.10 The desirability and value of the law are underscored.
19.11–13 Even with the benefits and warning of the law, the psalmist cannot completely avoid hidden sins and mistakes or the control that presumptuous members of the community could exercise and so needs God’s forgiveness.
19.14 A concluding prayer of dedication and offering. See 104.34; 119.108.
PSALM 20
Prayer for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1The LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and give you support from Zion.
3May he remember all your offerings,
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices.
Selah
4May he grant you your heart’s desire,
and fulfill all your plans.
5May we shout for joy over your victory,
and in the name of our God set up our banners.
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
6Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
7Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God.
8They will collapse and fall,
but we shall rise and stand upright.
9Give victory to the king, O LORD;
answer us when we call.a
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a Gk: Heb give victory, O LORD; let the King answer us when we call
20.1–9 A royal psalm seeking God’s help for the ruler. It may have been offered as a prayer before the king and the army went out to war or at the time of enthronement. Its liturgical character is suggested by the movement from the intercession of the community to the voice of one who declares God’s intention to help and then back to the prayer of the people at the end (cf. Ps 12). To the leader. See note on 4.1–8.
20.1–5 A series of prayers all of which would be appropriate when faced by an enemy and its army; they may also address more broadly the needs of the king throughout his rule.
20.1 The name of God was understood to be in the sanctuary; this was the way God could be present there while dwelling continually transcendent in the heavens (1 Kings 8.15–30; cf. Pss 44.5; 54.6; 118.10–12).
20.3 Selah. See note on 3.2.
20.6–8 A declaration of God’s sure help is given by a representative figure, possibly a priest or prophet. It may have been preceded by an oracle of salvation, a word of assurance from God (cf. note on 22.21b).
20.6 Anointed. See note on 2.2.
20.9 A final prayer for God’s help in battle.
PSALM 21
Thanksgiving for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1In your strength the king rejoices, O LORD,
and in your help how greatly he exults!
2You have given him his heart’s desire,
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah
3For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked you for life; you gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.
5His glory is great through your help;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6You bestow on him blessings forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7For the king trusts in the LORD,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9You will make them like a fiery furnace
when you appear.
The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.
10You will destroy their offspring from the earth,
and their children from among humankind.
11If they plan evil against you,
if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows.
13Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.
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21.1–13 A royal liturgy of praise and thanksgiving for God’s protection of the ruler. To the leader. See note on 4.1–8.
21.1–6 Praise of God for all the help and blessings that the Lord has given to the king.
21.2 Selah. See note on 3.2.
21.7 The confidence of the king in the Lord.
21.8–12 An announcement is made to the ruler, possibly by a representative figure, that the Lord will enable the king to overcome all enemies (cf. note on 20.6–8).
21.13 The congregation sings praise to God. Be exalted is possibly a call to God to “rise up” in might to deliver the king and so evoke the songs of thanksgiving (cf. note on 12.5).
PSALM 22
Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility
To the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.
3Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
6But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8“Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver—
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
9Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
