Psalm 18:37
New International Version
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

New Living Translation
I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered.

English Standard Version
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed.

Berean Standard Bible
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.

King James Bible
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

New King James Version
I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.

New American Standard Bible
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed.

NASB 1995
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed.

NASB 1977
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed.

Legacy Standard Bible
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed.

Amplified Bible
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; And I did not turn back until they were consumed.

Christian Standard Bible
I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I do not turn back until they are wiped out.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I do not turn back until they are wiped out.

American Standard Version
I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them; Neither will I turn again till they are consumed.

Contemporary English Version
I kept chasing my enemies, until I caught them and destroyed them.

English Revised Version
I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them: neither will I turn again till they are consumed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I chased my enemies and caught up with them. I did not return until I had ended their lives.

Good News Translation
I pursue my enemies and catch them; I do not stop until I destroy them.

International Standard Version
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn around until they were utterly defeated.

Majority Standard Bible
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.

NET Bible
I chase my enemies and catch them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.

New Heart English Bible
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and I did not turn back until they were destroyed.

Webster's Bible Translation
I have pursued my enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

World English Bible
I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. I won’t turn away until they are consumed.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I pursue my enemies, and overtake them, "" And do not turn back until they are consumed.

Young's Literal Translation
I pursue mine enemies, and overtake them, And turn back not till they are consumed.

Smith's Literal Translation
I will pursue mine enemies, and I will overtake them: and I shall not turn back till consuming them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will pursue after my enemies, and overtake them: and I will not turn again till they are consumed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I will pursue my enemies and apprehend them. And I will not turn back until they have failed.

New American Bible
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till I destroyed them.

New Revised Standard Version
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back until they were consumed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I will pursue my enemies and overtake them; and I will not turn again till they are consumed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I shall pursue my enemies and overtake them and I shall not return until I finish them off.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back till they were consumed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them; and I will not turn back until they are consumed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD is My Rock
36You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way. 37I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed. 38I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 22:38
I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.

Joshua 10:19
But you, do not stop there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”

1 Samuel 30:8
and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”

1 Samuel 30:17
And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels.

2 Kings 5:21
So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?”

2 Kings 9:18-20
So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” / So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” / Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi—he is driving like a madman!”

Judges 4:16
Then Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.

Judges 8:4
Then Gideon and his three hundred men came to the Jordan and crossed it, exhausted yet still in pursuit.

1 Kings 20:20
and each one struck down his opponent. So the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with the cavalry.

Isaiah 41:2-3
Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow. / He pursues them, going on safely, hardly touching the path with his feet.

Isaiah 63:3
“I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained.

Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. / Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, / I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. / Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. / Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.


Treasury of Scripture

I have pursued my enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

Psalm 3:7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psalm 9:3
When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

Psalm 35:2,5
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help…

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Consumed Destroyed Enemies Haters Overcome Overtake Overtaken Overtook Pursue Pursued Turn Turning
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Consumed Destroyed Enemies Haters Overcome Overtake Overtaken Overtook Pursue Pursued Turn Turning
Psalm 18
1. David praises God for his manifold and marvelous blessings














I pursued my enemies
The Hebrew root for "pursued" is "רדף" (radaph), which conveys a sense of relentless pursuit and determination. In the historical context of King David, this pursuit is not merely physical but also spiritual, as he seeks to overcome the forces that oppose God's will. The enemies represent not only physical adversaries but also spiritual challenges and temptations. This phrase inspires believers to actively engage in spiritual warfare, pursuing righteousness and holiness with the same fervor.

and overtook them
The word "overtook" comes from the Hebrew "נשג" (nasag), meaning to reach or catch up with. This implies a successful completion of the pursuit, signifying victory. In the biblical narrative, David's overtaking of his enemies symbolizes God's faithfulness in granting victory to those who trust in Him. For Christians, this serves as a reminder that perseverance in faith and obedience leads to triumph over sin and adversity.

I did not turn back
The phrase "did not turn back" emphasizes unwavering commitment and resolve. The Hebrew "שוב" (shuv) means to return or retreat. David's steadfastness is a testament to his faith and reliance on God's strength. This determination is a call to believers to remain steadfast in their spiritual journey, not retreating in the face of trials but pressing forward with confidence in God's promises.

until they were consumed
The term "consumed" is derived from the Hebrew "כלה" (kalah), which means to finish or bring to an end. This signifies the complete and total defeat of the enemies. In a spiritual sense, it represents the ultimate victory over sin and evil through God's power. For Christians, this is a powerful assurance that through Christ, all spiritual battles will be brought to completion, and evil will be utterly vanquished.

(37-40) Another retrospective glance of the poet over his past wars. Notice slight variations in Samuel.

Verse 37. - I have pursued mine enemies and overtaken them (see 1 Samuel 30:8-17; 2 Samuel 8:1-13; 2 Samuel 10:6-18). Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. The greatest severities exercised by David seem to have been those against Edom (1 Kings 11:15, 16) and Ammon (2 Samuel 12:29-31). Otherwise he would seem not to have used, with any great harshness, his rights as a conqueror.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I pursued
אֶרְדּ֣וֹף (’er·dō·wp̄)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

my enemies
א֭וֹיְבַי (’ō·wy·ḇay)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

and overtook them;
וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם (wə·’aś·śî·ḡêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5381: To reach, overtake

I did not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

turn back
אָ֝שׁוּב‪‬ (’ā·šūḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

they were consumed.
כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃ (kal·lō·w·ṯām)
Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent


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OT Poetry: Psalm 18:37 I will pursue my enemies and overtake (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 18:36
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