Yahweh Is My Rock
(2 Samuel 22:1–51)

לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ׀ (For the one directing). לְעֶ֥בֶד (Of the servant) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), לְדָ֫וִ֥ד (David), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) דִּבֶּ֨ר׀ (spoke) לַיהוָ֗ה (to YHWH) אֶת־ (-) דִּ֭בְרֵי (the words) הַשִּׁירָ֣ה (of the song) הַזֹּ֑את (this) בְּי֤וֹם (on the day) הִֽצִּיל־ (that delivered) יְהוָ֘ה (YHWH) אוֹת֥וֹ (him) מִכַּ֥ף (from the hand) כָּל־ (of all) אֹ֝יְבָ֗יו (his enemies) וּמִיַּ֥ד (and from the hand) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (of Saul). 1וַיֹּאמַ֡ר (And he said),

אֶרְחָמְךָ֖ (I love You), יְהוָ֣ה (O YHWH), חִזְקִֽי׃ (my strength).

2  יְהוָ֤ה׀ (YHWH is) סַֽלְעִ֥י (my rock) וּמְצוּדָתִ֗י (and my fortress) וּמְפַ֫לְטִ֥י (and my deliverer).

אֵלִ֣י (My God) צ֭וּרִי (is my rock)— אֶֽחֱסֶה־ (I take refuge) בּ֑וֹ (in Him)—

מָֽגִנִּ֥י (my protection) וְקֶֽרֶן־ (and the horn) יִ֝שְׁעִ֗י (of my salvation),

מִשְׂגַּבִּֽי׃ (my high place).

3  מְ֭הֻלָּל (To be praised), אֶקְרָ֣א (I will call) יְהוָ֑ה (upon YHWH);

וּמִן־ (and from) אֹ֝יְבַ֗י (my enemies) אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃ (shall I be saved).

4  אֲפָפ֥וּנִי (Surrounded me) חֶבְלֵי־ (the cords) מָ֑וֶת (of Death)

וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י (and the torrents) בְלִיַּ֣עַל (of Belial) יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃ (terrified me).

5  חֶבְלֵ֣י (The cords) שְׁא֣וֹל (of Sheol) סְבָב֑וּנִי (surrounded me);

קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי (confronted me) מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי (the snares) מָֽוֶת׃ (of Death).

6  בַּצַּר־ (In the distress) לִ֤י׀ (unto me) אֶֽקְרָ֣א (I called to) יְהוָה֮ (YHWH),

וְאֶל־ (and to) אֱלֹהַ֪י (my God) אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ (I cried for help).

יִשְׁמַ֣ע (He heard) מֵהֵיכָל֣וֹ (from His temple) קוֹלִ֑י (my voice),

וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י (and my cry for help) לְפָנָ֤יו׀ (before His face) תָּב֬וֹא (came) בְאָזְנָֽיו׃ (into His ears).

7  וַתִּגְעַ֬שׁ (And shook) וַתִּרְעַ֨שׁ׀ (and quaked) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the earth),

וּמוֹסְדֵ֣י (and the foundations) הָרִ֣ים (of the hills) יִרְגָּ֑זוּ (trembled);

וַ֝יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּ (and they were shaken) כִּי־ (because) חָ֥רָה (of the burning) לֽוֹ׃ (from Him).

8  עָ֘לָ֤ה (Went up) עָשָׁ֨ן׀ (smoke) בְּאַפּ֗וֹ (from His nostril)

וְאֵשׁ־ (and fire) מִפִּ֥יו (from His mouth) תֹּאכֵ֑ל (devouring);

גֶּ֝חָלִ֗ים (coals) בָּעֲר֥וּ (were kindled) מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (from it).

9  וַיֵּ֣ט (And He stretched apart) שָׁ֭מַיִם (the heavens) וַיֵּרַ֑ד (and came down),

וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל (and a dark cloud) תַּ֣חַת (was under) רַגְלָֽיו׃ (His feet).

10  וַיִּרְכַּ֣ב (And He rode) עַל־ (upon) כְּ֭רוּב (a cherub) וַיָּעֹ֑ף (and flew),

וַ֝יֵּ֗דֶא (and He took flight) עַל־ (upon) כַּנְפֵי־ (the wings) רֽוּחַ׃ (of the wind).

11  יָ֤שֶׁת (He made) חֹ֨שֶׁךְ׀ (darkness) סִתְר֗וֹ (His covering);

סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֥יו (around Him) סֻכָּת֑וֹ (His canopy was) חֶשְׁכַת־ (darkness), מַ֝֗יִם (of waters) עָבֵ֥י (and thick clouds) שְׁחָקִֽים׃ (of vapors).

12  מִנֹּ֗גַהּ (From the brightness) נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ (before Him)

עָבָ֥יו (His thick clouds) עָבְר֑וּ (passed on),

בָּ֝רָ֗ד (hail) וְגַֽחֲלֵי־ (and coals) אֵֽשׁ׃ (of fire).

13  וַיַּרְעֵ֬ם (And thundered) בַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם׀ (in the heavens) יְֽהוָ֗ה (YHWH),

וְ֭עֶלְיוֹן (and the Most High) יִתֵּ֣ן (gave forth) קֹל֑וֹ (His voice)—

בָּ֝רָ֗ד (hail) וְגַֽחֲלֵי־ (and coals) אֵֽשׁ׃ (of fire).

14  וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (And He sent out) חִ֭צָּיו (His arrows) וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם (and scattered them),

וּבְרָקִ֥ים (lightning) רָ֝ב (He hurled), וַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃ (and routed them).

15  וַיֵּ֤רָא֨וּ׀ (And were seen) אֲפִ֥יקֵי (the channels) מַ֗יִם (of the sea),

וַֽיִּגָּלוּ֮ (and were uncovered) מוֹסְד֪וֹת (the foundations) תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל (of the world),

מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ (from Your rebuke), יְהוָ֑ה (O YHWH),

מִ֝נִּשְׁמַ֗ת (from the blast) ר֣וּחַ (of the breath) אַפֶּֽךָ׃ (of Your nostril).

16  יִשְׁלַ֣ח (He sent) מִ֭מָּרוֹם (from above), יִקָּחֵ֑נִי (he took hold of me),

יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי (He drew me out) מִמַּ֥יִם (from the waters) רַבִּֽים׃ (many).

17  יַצִּילֵ֗נִי (He snatched me away) מֵאֹיְבִ֥י (from my enemy) עָ֑ז (strong),

וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗י (and from those hating me),

כִּֽי־ (for) אָמְצ֥וּ (they were stronger) מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (than I),

18  יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי (they confronted me) בְיוֹם־ (in the day) אֵידִ֑י (of my calamity),

וַֽיְהִי־ (and was) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) לְמִשְׁעָ֣ן (as a support) לִֽי׃ (for me).

19  וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֥נִי (And He brought me out) לַמֶּרְחָ֑ב (into a broad place);

יְ֝חַלְּצֵ֗נִי (He pulled me out) כִּ֘י (because) חָ֥פֵֽץ (He took delight) בִּֽי׃ (in me).

20  יִגְמְלֵ֣נִי (Rewarded me) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) כְּצִדְקִ֑י (according to my righteousness);

כְּבֹ֥ר (according to the cleanness) יָ֝דַ֗י (of my hands) יָשִׁ֥יב (He returned it) לִֽי׃ (to me).

21  כִּֽי־ (For) שָׁ֭מַרְתִּי (I have kept) דַּרְכֵ֣י (the ways) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH),

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי (I have acted wickedly) מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃ (against my God).

22  כִּ֣י (For) כָל־ (all) מִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו (His ordinances are) לְנֶגְדִּ֑י (before me),

וְ֝חֻקֹּתָ֗יו (and His statutes) לֹא־ (not) אָסִ֥יר (did I turn aside) מֶֽנִּי׃ (from me).

23  וָאֱהִ֣י (And I was) תָמִ֣ים (blameless) עִמּ֑וֹ (before Him),

וָ֝אֶשְׁתַּמֵּ֗ר (and I guarded myself) מֵעֲוֺנִֽי׃ (from my iniquity).

24  וַיָּֽשֶׁב־ (And has returned) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) לִ֣י (to me) כְצִדְקִ֑י (according to my righteousness),

כְּבֹ֥ר (according to the cleanness) יָ֝דַ֗י (of my hands) לְנֶ֣גֶד (before) עֵינָֽיו׃ (His eyes).

25  עִם־ (With) חָסִ֥יד (the faithful one) תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד (You show Yourself faithful);

עִם־ (with) גְּבַ֥ר (a man) תָּ֝מִ֗ים (who is blameless) תִּתַּמָּֽם׃ (You show Yourself blameless);

26  עִם־ (with) נָבָ֥ר (the purified one) תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר (You show Yourself pure),

וְעִם־ (and with) עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ (the crooked one) תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃ (You show Yourself shrewd).

27  כִּֽי־ (For) אַ֭תָּה (You) עַם־ (a people) עָנִ֣י (that is lowly) תוֹשִׁ֑יעַ (You will save),

וְעֵינַ֖יִם (and the eyes) רָמ֣וֹת (of those rising high) תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃ (You will bring low).

28  כִּֽי־ (For) אַ֭תָּה (You) תָּאִ֣יר (light) נֵרִ֑י (my lamp),

יְהוָ֥ה (O YHWH); אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י (my God) יַגִּ֥יהַּ (makes shine bright) חָשְׁכִּֽי׃ (my darkness).

29  כִּֽי־ (For) בְ֭ךָ (with You) אָרֻ֣ץ (I can run against) גְּד֑וּד (a troop),

וּ֝בֵֽאלֹהַ֗י (and with my God) אֲדַלֶּג־ (I can leap) שֽׁוּר׃ (a wall).

30  הָאֵל֮ (God), תָּמִ֪ים (is perfect) דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ (His way);

אִמְרַֽת־ (the word) יְהוָ֥ה (of YHWH) צְרוּפָ֑ה (is refined);

מָגֵ֥ן (a shield) ה֝֗וּא (He is) לְכֹ֤ל׀ (for all) הַחֹסִ֬ים (those taking refuge) בּֽוֹ׃ (in Him).

31  כִּ֤י (For) מִ֣י (who is) אֱ֭לוֹהַּ (God) מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י (apart from) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH)?

וּמִ֥י (And who is) צ֝֗וּר (the Rock) זוּלָתִ֥י (except)) אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (our God)?

32  הָ֭אֵל (The God) הַמְאַזְּרֵ֣נִי (girding me) חָ֑יִל (with strength)

וַיִּתֵּ֖ן (and who makes) תָּמִ֣ים (perfect) דַּרְכִּֽי׃ (my way).

33  מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה (Setting) רַ֭גְלַי (my feet) כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת (like does),

וְעַ֥ל (and on) בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י (the heights) יַעֲמִידֵֽנִי׃ (He makes me stand).

34  מְלַמֵּ֣ד (He trains) יָ֭דַי (my hands) לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (for the battle),

וְֽנִחֲתָ֥ה (and can bend down) קֶֽשֶׁת־ (a bow) נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה (of bronze) זְרוֹעֹתָֽי׃ (my arms).

35  וַתִּתֶּן־ (And You gave) לִי֮ (to me) מָגֵ֪ן (the shield) יִ֫שְׁעֶ֥ךָ (of Your salvation),

וִֽימִינְךָ֥ (and Your right hand) תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי (supports me),

וְֽעַנְוַתְךָ֥ (and Your gentleness) תַרְבֵּֽנִי׃ (makes me great).

36  תַּרְחִ֣יב (You made wide) צַעֲדִ֣י (my path) תַחְתָּ֑י (under me)

וְלֹ֥א (and not) מָ֝עֲד֗וּ (have slipped) קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃ (my ankles).

37  אֶרְדּ֣וֹף (I pursued) א֭וֹיְבַי (my enemies) וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם (and overtook them),

וְלֹֽא־ (and not) אָ֝שׁוּב (did I turn back) עַד־ (until) כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃ (they were consumed).

38  אֶ֭מְחָצֵם (I wounded them) וְלֹא־ (and not) יֻ֣כְלוּ (they were able) ק֑וּם (to rise);

יִ֝פְּל֗וּ (they have fallen) תַּ֣חַת (under) רַגְלָֽי׃ (my feet).

39  וַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִי (And You girded me) חַ֭יִל (with strength) לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (for the battle);

תַּכְרִ֖יעַ (You bent down) קָמַ֣י (those rising against me) תַּחְתָּֽי׃ (underneath me).

40  וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י (And my enemies) נָתַ֣תָּה (You have given) לִּ֣י (to me) עֹ֑רֶף (the neck);

וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י (and those hating me), אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃ (I cut them off).

41  יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ (They cried for help), וְאֵין־ (and none) מוֹשִׁ֑יעַ (saved them)—

עַל־ (upon) יְ֝הוָ֗ה (YHWH), וְלֹ֣א (and not) עָנָֽם׃ (did He answer them).

42  וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗ם (And I beat them) כְּעָפָ֥ר (as dust) עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵי־ (the face) ר֑וּחַ (of the wind);

כְּטִ֖יט (like mud) חוּצ֣וֹת (in the streets) אֲרִיקֵֽם׃ (I emptied them out).

43  תְּפַלְּטֵנִי֮ (You rescued me) מֵרִ֪יבֵ֫י (from the disputes) עָ֥ם (of people);

תְּ֭שִׂימֵנִי (You set me) לְרֹ֣אשׁ (as the head) גּוֹיִ֑ם (of nations);

עַ֖ם (a people) לֹא־ (not) יָדַ֣עְתִּי (I have known) יַֽעַבְדֽוּנִי׃ (shall serve me).

44  לְשֵׁ֣מַֽע (At the hearing) אֹ֭זֶן (of the ear) יִשָּׁ֣מְעוּ (they listen) לִ֑י (to me);

בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) נֵ֝כָ֗ר (of a foreigner) יְכַחֲשׁוּ־ (feign obedience) לִֽי׃ (before me).

45  בְּנֵי־ (The sons) נֵכָ֥ר (of a foreigner) יִבֹּ֑לוּ (fade away),

וְ֝יַחְרְג֗וּ (and they come trembling) מִֽמִּסְגְּרֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (from their strongholds).

46  חַי־ (Lives) יְ֭הוָה (YHWH), וּבָר֣וּךְ (and blessed be) צוּרִ֑י (my Rock),

וְ֝יָר֗וּם (and be exalted) אֱלוֹהֵ֥י (the God) יִשְׁעִֽי׃ (of my salvation).

47  הָאֵ֗ל (The God) הַנּוֹתֵ֣ן (giving) נְקָמ֣וֹת (vengeance) לִ֑י (to me)

וַיַּדְבֵּ֖ר (and subduing) עַמִּ֣ים (the peoples) תַּחְתָּֽי׃ (under me).

48  מְפַלְּטִ֗י (Causing me to escape) מֵאֹ֫יְבָ֥י (from my enemies); אַ֣ף (so even) מִן־ (above)

קָ֭מַי (those who rise against me) תְּרוֹמְמֵ֑נִי (You lift me up);

מֵאִ֥ישׁ (from the man) חָ֝מָ֗ס (of violence) תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃ (You have snatched me up).

49  עַל־ (For) כֵּ֤ן׀ (thus) אוֹדְךָ֖ (I will confess You) בַגּוֹיִ֥ם׀ (among the nations), יְהוָ֑ה (O YHWH),

וּלְשִׁמְךָ֥ (and to Your name) אֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃ (I will sing praise).

50  מַגְדִּל (He is making great) יְשׁוּע֪וֹת (the salvation) מַ֫לְכּ֥וֹ (of His king)

וְעֹ֤שֶׂה (and showing) חֶ֨סֶד׀ (loving devotion) לִמְשִׁיח֗וֹ (to His anointed),

לְדָוִ֥ד (of David) וּלְזַרְע֗וֹ (and to his seed) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ (forever).