Psalm 18 Discourse

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YHWH fights my battles

Psalm 18

Guardian: Joseph Habib

About the Discourse Layer

Our Discourse Layer includes four additional layers of analysis:

• Participant analysis
• Macrosyntax
• Speech act analysis
• Emotional analysis

For more information on our method of analysis, click the expandable explanation button at the beginning of each layer.

• Participants
• Macrosyntax
• Speech Act
• Emotional Analysis

Participant Analysis

  What is Participant Analysis?

Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? It is often helpful for understanding literary structure, speaker identification, etc.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Participant Analysis Creator Guidelines.

There are 5 participants/characters in Psalm 18

YHWH

YHWH's right hand

YHWH's help

YHWH's name

"My strength" (v. 2)

“My cleft” (v. 3)

“My fortress” (v. 3)

“My rescuer” (v. 3)

“My God” (v. 3)

“My rock” (v. 3)

“My shield” (v. 3)

“Horn of my deliverance” (v. 3)

“My fortified tower” (v. 3)

“My refuge” (v. 3)

“My deliverer” (v. 3)

“The most high” (v. 14)

"The one who arms me with strength” (v. 33)

"Rescuer" (v. 42)

"The one who makes the deliverance of his king spectacular" (v. 51)

"The one who performs acts of loyalty for his anointed one" (v. 51)

God's way

God's rules (v. 23)

God's decrees (v. 23)

The sayings of YHWH (v. 31)

YHWH's anger

Smoke (v. 9)

Fire (v. 9)

Coals (v. 9)

Hail (v. 13)

God's rebuke (v. 16)

The blast of the wind of his anger (v. 16)

David

"YHWH's servant" (v. 1)

"[God's] King" (v. 51)

"[God's] Anointed" (v. 51)

Cry (for help)

"My sword" (v. 7)

David's seed

A faithful person

A blameless person (v. 26)

One who purifies himself (v. 27)

A humble people (v. 28)

Those who take refuge in him (v. 31)

Enemies

“those who hate me” (v. 18)

"those who rise up against me" (v. 40)

The violent man

Saul

Forces of Death

Death's breaker waves (v. 5)

Torrents of No Return (v. 6)

Cords of the World of the Dead (v. 6)

Death's traps (v. 6)

Waters (v. 17)

Sinful people

A twisted person (v. 27)

Eyes that look down on others (v. 27)

A people I do not know

"Nations" (vv. 44, 50)

“Foreigners” (vv. 45, 46)

The Earth

The mountains' foundations

The ocean floor

• A faithful person: This and the related generic referring expressions appear in vv. 26–31. They function to illustrate the principle on the basis of which God acts on behalf of the Psalmist: “acts beget consequences” (see Hubbard 1982), that is, God shows himself to an individual in a way commensurate with their actions. That the Psalmist counts himself among these “faithful persons” is suggested by both participants “taking refuge” (חסה) in YHWH (see vv. 3, 31) and the suffix in v. 32.
• YHWH's anger and its related participants (vv. 9–13, 16) all serve as manifestations of God's anger (see Hupfeld 1885, 288). They function together with the earth and Death's waters and other terrestrial participants to mark the turning points in the plot. The earth reacting to God's anger is an instance of “theophany”, that is, the manifestation of God. In essence, in this section of the psalm God “shows up” and thus effects a change in the Psalmist's situation. Similarly, God uses his “rebuke” to defeat death's waters in v. 16. We are told that the rebuke is the wind of God's “anger” in v. 16, and so we have grouped it with the other theophany elements.

• Tracking Text
• Relations
• Distribution

Hebrew	Line	English
לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ ׀ לְעֶ֥בֶד יְהוָ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד	1a	For the director By YHWH's servant, David,
אֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּ֨ר ׀ לַיהוָ֗ה	1b	who recited the words of this song to YHWH
אֶת־דִּ֭בְרֵי הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את	1c	the director By YHWH's servant, David, who recited the words of this song
בְּי֤וֹם הִֽצִּיל־יְהוָ֘ה אוֹת֥וֹ מִכַּ֥ף כָּל־אֹ֝יְבָ֗יו וּמִיַּ֥ד שָׁאֽוּל׃	1d	when YHWH had rescued him from the palm of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
וַיֹּאמַ֡ר	2a	And he said,
אֶרְחָמְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חִזְקִֽי׃	2b	I shall keep loving you, YHWH, my strength.
יְהוָ֤ה ׀ סַֽלְעִ֥י וּמְצוּדָתִ֗י וּמְפַ֫לְטִ֥י	3a	YHWH is my cleft and my fortress and my rescuer.
אֵלִ֣י צ֭וּרִי אֶֽחֱסֶה־בּ֑וֹ	3b	My God is my rock, in him do I seek protection,
מָֽגִנִּ֥י וְקֶֽרֶן־יִ֝שְׁעִ֗י	3c	my shield and horn of my deliverance,
מִשְׂגַּבִּֽי וּמְנוּסִי׃ מֹשִׁעִי׃ מֵחָמָס תֹּשִׁעֵנִי׃	3d	my fortified tower and my refuge, my deliverer, who delivers me from violence.
מְ֭הֻלָּל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהוָ֑ה	4a	I cry out to YHWH, since he is praiseworthy,
וּמִן־אֹ֝יְבַ֗י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃	4b	and I am delivered from my enemies.
אֲפָפ֥וּנִי מִשְׁבְּרֵי־מָ֑וֶת	5a	The breaker waves of Death surrounded me.
וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃	5b	And the torrents of No Return began to overwhelm me.
חֶבְלֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל סְבָב֑וּנִי	6a	The cords of the World of the Dead entangled me.
קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃	6b	Death's traps rushed upon me.
בַּצַּר־לִ֤י ׀ אֶֽקְרָ֣א יְהוָה֮	7a	In my distress I cry out to YHWH.
וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַ֪י אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ	7b	And to my God do I cry for help.
יִשְׁמַ֣ע מֵהֵיכָל֣וֹ קוֹלִ֑י	7c	He hears my cry from his temple.
וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֤יו ׀ תָּב֬וֹא בְאָזְנָֽיו׃	7d	And my cry for help before him comes into his ears.
וַתִּגְעַ֬שׁ וַתִּרְעַ֨שׁ ׀ הָאָ֗רֶץ	8a	And the earth quivered and quaked.
וּמוֹסְדֵ֣י הָרִ֣ים יִרְגָּ֑זוּ	8b	And the mountains' foundations began to shake.
וַ֝יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּ כִּי־חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃	8c	And they trembled. For he had become angry.
עָ֘לָ֤ה עָשָׁ֨ן ׀ בְּאַפּ֗וֹ	9a	Smoke went up because of his snarl.
וְאֵשׁ־מִפִּ֥יו תֹּאכֵ֑ל	9b	And a fire from his mouth began to consume.
גֶּ֝חָלִ֗ים בָּעֲר֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃	9c	Coals burned from him.
וַיֵּ֣ט שָׁ֭מַיִם וַיֵּרַ֑ד	10a	And he bent down the heavens and descended.
וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽיו׃	10b	And a dark smog was beneath his feet.
וַיִּרְכַּ֣ב עַל־כְּ֭רוּב וַיָּעֹ֑ף	11a	And he mounted a Cherub and began to fly.
וַ֝יֵּ֗דֶא עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃	11b	And he flew swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
יָ֤שֶׁת חֹ֨שֶׁךְ ׀ סִתְר֗וֹ	12a	He made darkness his cover.
סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֥יו סֻכָּת֑וֹ	12b	his canopy around him,
חֶשְׁרַת־מַ֝֗יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים׃	12c	the sieve of water, thick clouds of the skies.
מִנֹּ֗גַהּ נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ עָבְר֑וּ	13a	Because of the brightness before him, hail and coals of fire passed.
בָּ֝רָ֗ד וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃	13b	hail and coals of fire
וַיַּרְעֵ֬ם בַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה	14a	And YHWH thundered in the heavens.
וְ֭עֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּ֣ן קֹל֑וֹ ־׃	14b	And the Most High began to raise his voice.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִ֭צָּיו וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם	15a	And he shot his arrows, and dispersed them.
וּבְרָקִ֥ים וַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃	15b	And [he shot his] glittering arrows, and routed them.
וַיֵּ֤רָא֨וּ ׀ אֲפִ֥יקֵי מַ֗יִם	16a	And the ocean floor appeared.
וַֽיִּגָּלוּ֮ מוֹסְד֪וֹת תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל	16b	And the foundations of the world were revealed
מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה	16c	because of your rebuke, YHWH,
מִ֝נִּשְׁמַ֗ת ר֣וּחַ אַפֶּֽךָ׃	16d	because of the blast of the wind of your anger.
יִשְׁלַ֣ח מִ֭מָּרוֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי	17a	He stretched forth his hand from on high and took me.
יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃	17b	He pulled me out from many waters.
יַצִּילֵ֗נִי מֵאֹיְבִ֥י עָ֑ז	18a	He rescued me from my strong enemy.
וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗י כִּֽי־אָמְצ֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	18b	And [he rescued me] from those who hate me. For they were too powerful for me.
יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי בְיוֹם־אֵידִ֑י וַֽיְהִי־יְהוָ֖ה מִשְׁעָ֣ן לִֽי׃	19	They rushed upon me at the time of my calamity. And YHWH was the one in whom I trusted.
וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֥נִי לַמֶּרְחָ֑ב יְ֝חַלְּצֵ֗נִי כִּ֘י חָ֥פֵֽץ בִּֽי׃	20	And he brought me out into relief. He delivered me. For he is pleased with me.
יִגְמְלֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֣ה כְּצִדְקִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי׃	21	YHWH deals well with me according to my righteousness. He repays me according to the cleanliness of my hands.
כִּֽי־שָׁ֭מַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃	22	For I have kept the ways of YHWH. And I have not turned from my God towards wicked ways.
כִּ֣י כָל־מִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וְ֝חֻקֹּתָ֗יו לֹא־אָסִ֥יר מֶֽנִּי׃	23	For all of his rules are before me. And I will not turn his decrees away from me.
וָאֱהִ֣י תָמִ֣ים עִמּ֑וֹ וָ֝אֶשְׁתַּמֵּ֗ר מֵעֲוֺנִֽי׃	24	And I have become blameless before him. And I have kept myself from committing iniquity.
וַיָּֽשֶׁב־יְהוָ֣ה לִ֣י כְצִדְקִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃	25	And YHWH has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands before his eyes.
עִם־חָסִ֥יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד עִם־גְּבַ֥ר תָּ֝מִ֗ים תִּתַּמָּֽם׃	26	You act faithfully with a faithful person. You act blamelessly with a blameless person.
עִם־נָבָ֥ר תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר וְעִם־עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃	27	You act with purity with one who purifies himself. And with a twisted person you act wittily.
כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה עַם־עָנִ֣י תוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְעֵינַ֖יִם רָמ֣וֹת תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃	28	For you save a humble people. And you bring down eyes
כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה תָּאִ֣יר נֵרִ֑י יְהוָ֥ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י יַגִּ֥יהַּ חָשְׁכִּֽי׃	29	For you light my lamp, YHWH. My God gives light to my darkness.
כִּֽי־בְ֭ךָ אָרִ֣ץ גְּד֑וּד וּ֝בֵֽאלֹהַ֗י אֲדַלֶּג־שֽׁוּר׃	30	For by you I can rout an army. And by my God I can scale a wall.
הָאֵל֮ תָּמִ֪ים דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ אִמְרַֽת־יְהוָ֥ה צְרוּפָ֑ה מָגֵ֥ן ה֝֗וּא לְכֹ֤ל ׀ הַחֹסִ֬ים בּֽוֹ׃	31	God—His way is perfect. The sayings of YHWH are true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
כִּ֤י מִ֣י אֱ֭לוֹהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וּמִ֥י צ֝֗וּר זוּלָתִ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃	32	For who is God besides YHWH? And who is a rock besides our God,
הָ֭אֵל הַמְאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חָ֑יִל וַיִּתֵּ֖ן תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכִּֽי׃	33	the God who arms me with strength and makes my endeavor secure?
מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַי כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת וְעַ֥ל בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י יַעֲמִידֵֽנִי׃	34	He makes my feet like those of deer. And he causes me to stand upon my heights.
מְלַמֵּ֣ד יָ֭דַי לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְֽנִחַ֥ת קֶֽשֶׁת־נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה זְרוֹעֹתָֽי׃	35	He trains my hands for war. And he strengthens my arms with a bow of bronze.
וַתִּתֶּן־לִי֮ מָגֵ֪ן יִ֫שְׁעֶ֥ךָ וִֽימִינְךָ֥ תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי וְֽעֶזְרָתְךָ֥ תַרְבֵּֽנִי׃	36	And you give me the shield of your victory. And your right hand supports me. And your help makes me great.
תַּרְחִ֣יב צַעֲדִ֣י תַחְתָּ֑י וְלֹ֥א מָ֝עֲד֗וּ קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃	37	You enlarged my steps underneath me. And my ankles did not falter.
אֶרְדּ֣וֹף א֭וֹיְבַי וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם וְלֹֽא־אָ֝שׁוּב עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃	38	I chased my enemies and I overtook them. And I would not relent until their destruction.
אֶ֭מְחָצֵם וְלֹא־יֻ֣כְלוּ ק֑וּם יִ֝פְּל֗וּ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽי׃	39	I violently beat them, and they could not stand. They fell beneath my feet.
וַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חַ֭יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה תַּכְרִ֖יעַ קָמַ֣י תַּחְתָּֽי׃	40	And so you armed me with strength for war. You make those who rise up against me kneel underneath me.
וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃	41	And you have made my enemies retreat from me. And as for those who hate me, I wipe them out.
יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ וְאֵין־מוֹשִׁ֑יעַ אֶל־יְ֝הוָ֗ה וְלֹ֣א עָנָֽם׃	42	They cry out for help, and there is no rescuer. [They cry out for help] to YHWH, and he has not answered them.
וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗ם כְּעָפָ֥ר עַל־פְּנֵי־אֹ֑֑רַח כְּטִ֖יט חוּצ֣וֹת אֶרְקָעֵֽם׃	43	And I crush them like the dust on the road. I beat them like the mud of the streets.
תְּפַלְּטֵנִי֮ מֵרִ֪יבֵ֫י עַםִ֥ים תְּ֭שִׂימֵנִי לְרֹ֣אשׁ גּוֹיִ֑ם עַ֖ם לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי יַֽעַבְדֽוּנִי׃	44	You will deliver me from people's indictments. You will make me head of nations. A people I do not know will serve me.
לְשֵׁ֣מַֽע אֹ֭זֶן יִשָּׁ֣מְעוּ לִ֑י בְּנֵֽי־נֵ֝כָ֗ר יְכַחֲשׁוּ־לִֽי׃	45	As soon as they hear rumors of me they will show obedience to me. Foreigners will submit to me.
בְּנֵי־נֵכָ֥ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ וְ֝יַחְרְג֗וּ מִֽמִּסְגְּרֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃	46	Foreigners will lose heart and tremble from their fortresses.
חַי־יְ֭הוָה וּבָר֣וּךְ צוּרִ֑י וְ֝יָר֗וּם אֱלוֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃	47	YHWH lives! And my rock is blessed! And the God of my rescue is exalted!
הָאֵ֗ל הַנּוֹתֵ֣ן נְקָמ֣וֹת לִ֑י וַיַּדְבֵּ֖ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתָּֽי׃	48	God—who gives me vengeance, and subdues peoples underneath me.
מְפַלְּטִ֗י מֵאֹ֫יְבָ֥י אַ֣ף מִן־קָ֭מַי תְּרוֹמְמֵ֑נִי מֵאִ֥ישׁ חָ֝מָ֗ס תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃	49	You who deliver me from my enemies will indeed exalt me over those who rise up against me. You will rescue me from the violent man.
עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ אוֹדְךָ֖ בַגּוֹיִ֥ם ׀ יְהוָ֑ה וּלְשִׁמְךָ֥ אֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃	50	Therefore I shall praise you among the nations, YHWH! And I shall sing praise to your name,
מַגְדִּיל֮ יְשׁוּע֪וֹת מַ֫לְכּ֥וֹ וְעֹ֤שֶׂה חֶ֨סֶד ׀ לִמְשִׁיח֗וֹ לְדָוִ֥ד וּלְזַרְע֗וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃	51	who makes the deliverance of his king spectacular, and performs acts of loyalty for his anointed one, for David, and for his seed, forever.”

• Speaker and Addressee: Fortunately, the Superscription for the Psalm provides the speaker and addressee, for the Psalm: לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּ֨ר ׀ לַיהוָ֗ה אֶת־דִּ֭בְרֵי הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את “David, who recited the words of this song to YHWH”. There is no good evidence within the song to suggest otherwise.
• v. 3: For the addition of וּמְנוּסִי מֹשִׁעִי מֵחָמָס תֹּשִׁעֵנִי׃ see grammar note (MT ø).
• v. 5: For the emendation to מִשְׁבְּרֵי see grammar note (MT חֶבְלֵי).
• v. 8: אֶרֶץ “land, earth” and הַר “mountain” are paired throughout scripture (e.g., Isa 42:5; 44:23; Ezek 32:6; 37:22, etc), most likely because the latter was constituent of the former (cf. GW “Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the mountains trembled.“). They are therefore analyzed here as related participants here.
• v. 9: The smoke, fire and coals here all serve a similar function: to express anger (cf. Baethgen 1904, 50). These elements, of course, naturally accompany each other, and so we see them together elsewhere (e.g., Job 41:12–15). We analyze them as synonymous participants.
• v. 12: For the emendation to חֶשׁרַת see grammar note (MT חֶשְׁכַת).
• v. 13: For the removal of MT עָבָ֥יו see grammar note.
• v. 14: For the removal of MT בָּרָ֗ד וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃ see grammar note.
• v. 15: For the removal of MT רָ֝ב see grammar note.
• v. 15: Note that many translations (NIV, NLT, CEV, GNT) take the enemies as the referent of the suffixes on the verb וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם and וַיְהֻמֵּֽם. This is unlikely, however. No enemies have been mentioned in the previous discourse. From the context, it is reasonable to assume that what is fleeing is the mythological waters (cf. next verse). We therefore take the referents of the antecedents to be the waves, torrents, cords and traps mentioned in vv. 5–6, since all of these symbolize watery chaos.
• v. 13: Both hail and fire function together as instruments of God's judgement in Exod 9:23, 24; Isa 30:30; Pss 105:32; 148:8. Due to the similar function in those places as well as here, we analyze them as synonymous participants.
• v. 16: The ocean floor and foundations of the world are both terrestrial elements that react to God's wrath, just like the “earth” and “mountains' foundations” in v. 8 (so Hupfeld 1885, 294–295). We therefore group them as synonymous participants.
• v. 17: Back in vv. 5–6, the Psalmist symbolizes his distress by describing being underwater; cf. Jonah's prayer in Jonah 3:3–5. We have therefore analyzed the “waters” here as co-referential with with the implements belonging to Death in vv. 5–6. On the symbolic association between death and water, cf. Jonah 2:7.
• v. 19: On the emendation to מִשְׁעָן see grammar note (MT לְמִשְׁעָ֣ן).
• v. 30: On the revocalization to אָרִץ see grammar note (MT אָרֻ֣ץ).
• v. 32: The words אֱ֭לוֹהַּ and צ֝֗וּר appear in a question and are thus non-real entities. They are therefore not analysed as participants.
• v. 35: On the emendation to נִחַת see grammar note (MT נִחֲתָ֥ה).
• v. 36: On the emendation to עֶזְרָתְךָ see grammar note (MT עַנְוַתְךָ֥).
• v. 43: On the emendation to אֹרַח see grammar note (MT ר֑וּחַ).
• v. 43: On the emendation to אֶרְקָעֵם see grammar note (MT אֲרִיקֵֽם).
• v. 44: On the emendation to עַמִּים see grammar note (MT עָ֥ם).

Participant Relations Diagram

The relationships among the participants may be abstracted and summarized as follows:

Participant Analysis Summary Distribution

Macrosyntax

  What is Macrosyntax?

Macrosyntax Diagram

  Legend

Macrosyntax legend
Vocatives	Vocatives are indicated by purple text.
Discourse marker	Discourse markers (such as כִּי, הִנֵּה, לָכֵן) are indicated by orange text.
	The scope governed by the discourse marker is indicated by a dashed orange bracket connecting the discourse marker to its scope.
	The preceding discourse grounding the discourse marker is indicated by a solid orange bracket encompassing the relevant clauses.
Subordinating conjunction	The subordinating conjunction is indicated by teal text.
	Subordination is indicated by a solid teal bracket connecting the subordinating conjunction with the clause to which it is subordinate.
Coordinating conjunction	The coordinating conjunction is indicated by blue text.
	Coordination is indicated by a solid blue line connecting the coordinating clauses.
	Coordination without an explicit conjunction is indicated by a dashed blue line connecting the coordinated clauses.
	Marked topic is indicated by a black dashed rounded rectangle around the marked words.
	The scope of the activated topic is indicated by a black dashed bracket encompassing the relevant clauses.
Marked focus or thetic sentence	Marked focus (if one constituent) or thetic sentences are indicated by bold text.
	Frame setters are indicated by a solid gray rounded rectangle around the marked words.
[blank line]	Discourse discontinuity is indicated by a blank line.
[indentation]	Syntactic subordination is indicated by indentation.
	Direct speech is indicated by a solid black rectangle surrounding all relevant clauses.
(text to elucidate the meaning of the macrosyntactic structures)	Within the CBC, any text elucidating the meaning of macrosyntax is indicated in gray text inside parentheses.

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text*	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text*	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.

(Click diagram to enlarge)

• Divisions
• Word Order
• Vocatives
• Discourse Markers
• Conjunctions

• Between vv. 6 and 7: Frame setter בַּצַּר־לִ֤י indicates a new “scene”.
• Between vv. 7 and 8: Discourse-level waw and a new discourse topic (from the Psalmist/his cry to the earth and mountains).
• Between vv. 9 and 10: Discourse-level waw.
• Between 12 and 13: Topic shift.
• Between 16 and 17: Discontinuation of wayyiqtol chain.
• Between 20 and 21: Explicit restatement of topic (יהוה) in v. 21.
• Between 23 and 24: Discourse-level waw.
• Between 25 and 26: Major topic shift in v. 26ff.
• Between 30 and 31: Topic shift through extraposition.
• Between 39 and 40: Discourse-level waw.
• Between 43 and 44: V. 43 begins with a discourse-level waw closing out the section.
• Between 46 and 47: Thetic sentences.
• Between 49 and 50: Scope of על כן. See discourse marker notes.

The following analysis is largely based on that of Atkinson forthcoming.

• v. 3: The context, particularly the epithets, already presuppose that God will save the psalmist from something.
• v. 4: The fronted ומן איבי has no discernible motivation from information structure. Rather, it seems to be fronted for poetic effects, namely alliteration with מְהֻלָּל in the previous line. The מהלל is most likely serving as completive focus, specifying the reason why the Psalmist cries out.
• v. 5: The thetic packaging of נַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃ is signaled by the word order and serves an explanative function, namely, to the circumstances of the event expressed in the main clause. One should not exclude the possibility that the function here is symmetry with the previous line.
• v. 6: The fronted phrase חֶבְלֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל serves a poetic function, namely to elicit cohesion with the previous verse by means of symmetry with the previous line.
• v. 7: The fronted phrase בַּצַּר־לִ֤י ׀ acts as a frame setter, describing the time in which the events that follow took place.
• v. 7: וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַ֪י is fronted for poetic binding, by mirroring the word order of the previous clause.
• v. 8: מוֹסְדֵ֣י הָרִ֣ים is more or less synonymous with the הָאָ֗רֶץ of the previous clause. The mirror word orders of the two clauses are thus most likely for the purposes of poetic binding. If analyzed as a focus construction, it would serve an additive function, viz., “The earth trembled, and the mountains also shook”.
• v. 9: The phrase אֵשׁ־מִפִּ֥יו appears fronted here due to the elision of the verb עלה.
• v. 9: גֶּ֝חָלִ֗ים more or less repeats אֵשׁ from the previous line, and is therefore fronted for poetic reasons.
• v. 13: מִנֹּ֗גַהּ נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ here is serving as a “hanging topic” (Croft 2022, 332ff). That is, the entity referred to is not a participant in the main event, but the speaker still wants to make it the most salient referent in the clause. This clause appears at the climax of the description of God's surroundings (vv. 12–13), which in this case happens to be the “brightness” (=“fire”, cf. v. 9) before him.
• v. 14: וְ֭עֶלְיוֹן is fronted for poetic binding via symmetry.
• v. 21: כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י is fronted for poetic binding via symmetry.
• v. 23: וְ֝חֻקֹּתָ֗יו represents a shift in topic. Note that its close synonym in the previous clause (מִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו) was construed as subject.
• v. 26-27: All of the עִם clauses serve to activate new topics in their respective clauses. The final one (עִם־עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ) is a contrastive topic. They are expressed as oblique arguments, rather than subject arguments (the most prototypical topic) most likely because in each case “the Lord” would also have to have been included in the subject phrase for the desired reciprocal semantics.
• v. 28: The אַתָּה is a topic shift, this time in its prototypical expression as subject. עַם־עָנִ֣י is fronted for contrastive focus. One may assume that God saves “somebody”. The focused constituent provides the answer in relation to a set of possible alternatives. Consequently, וְעֵינַ֖יִם רָמ֣וֹת is a parallel focus construction—since it occupies the same place in the clause—of the same type (contrastive)
• v. 29: כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה is fronted here for poetic binding. Cf. the repetition with the previous verse. The following thetic construction (אֱלֹהַ֗י יַגִּ֥יהַּ חָשְׁכִּֽי׃) is explanative, describing how God “lights David's lamp” (=protects his dynasty)—by “brightening his darkness” (=military success).
• v. 30: The fronted bet-phrases are restrictive focus. The fact that the Psalmist experiences success in military endeavors is presupposed. Contrary to normal expectations, it is the Lord, rather than his own strength, that he asserts to be the source of his ability.
• v. 31: הָאֵל֮ is clearly extraposed here, as suggested by the resumptive pronoun on דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ. The purpose is a shift of topic. The clause ‏ תָּמִ֪ים דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ is in scalar focus. That God’s way (=his dealings with people) has a positive value is presupposed due to the previous verses that describe his various dealings with people. The Psalmist declares that this way is no less than “perfect”. Surprise towards a scalar property is constituent of exclamations, which is why a few modern translations render this as an exclamation (e.g., GNB “This God-how perfect are his deeds!”)
• v. 34: עַ֥ל בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י most likely has a poetic function, binding it with vv. 33 and 35. In all three verses the A-lines begin with a piel participle. In vv. 33 and 35, the B-lines begin with verbs, whereas the B-line here in v. 34 does not, thereby mirroring the flanking verses.
• v. 36: ועזרתך is fronted as a brief topic shift.
• v. 41: Both וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י and the following וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י are topic shifts, enumerating items in a list.
• v. 43: The fronting כְּטִ֖יט חוּצ֣וֹת makes for binding within the verse through mirroring the word order of the previous clause.
• v. 44: עַ֖ם לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי is fronted to mark the clause as annuntiative thetic, whereby the Psalmist expresses his certainty of the event (“serving”) by introducing it into the discourse. Note the semi-generic reference of the fronted constituent.
• v. 45: לְשֵׁ֣מַֽע אֹ֭זֶן is fronted for completive/scalar focus. That the nations will obey is presupposed. The list of possible reasons may rank from obvious reasons, to less obvious reasons, hence the scale. A mere rumor is the least likely reason.
• v. 45-46: The phrase בְּנֵי־נֵכָר “sons of a foreigner” is repeated in 45 b and 46a, thus reflecting their poetic functions.
• v. 49: both מִן־קָ֭מַי and מֵאִ֥ישׁ חָ֝מָ֗ס are in a symmetrical position in their clauses.
• v. 50:וּלְשִׁמְךָ֥ forms a chiastic parallelism with יהוה in 50a. The fronting is thus most likely poetically motivated.

• Vocatives occur in vv. 2, 16 and 50. All of these are poetically significant places. Vv. 2 and 50 frame the psalm, and v. 16 marks the end of YHWH defeating the waters of chaos. See poetic layer.
  • In v. 2 the vocative is post verbal and most likely draws attention to the following constituent חִזְקִי “my strength”, since equipping David with strength is how YHWH saves David from his enemies.
  • In v. 16 the vocative is in between two adverbial modifiers. Its function is most likely to assist in line delimitation (see poetic layer).
  • In v. 29 the clause-final position co-occurs with a grammatical person shift here.
  • In v. 50, the vocative is clause-final. Its function is probably to assist in processing the syntax, since the following line is not verb-initial.

• v. 49: “אף signals in a number of instances that the information referred to in a sentence (or sentences) y, affirms the information referred to in an immediately preceding sentence (or sentences)” (BHRG p. 396).
• v. 50: The poetic frame that v. 50 creates with v. 2 (see poetic structure) suggests that עַל כֵּן here express the result of just vv. 47–49 (so Hupfeld 1885, 402). Note however, that vv. 47–48 mirror vv. 2b–3, which summarize the characteristics of YHWH expressed throughout the Psalm. Thus there is a strong implication that the עַל כֵּּן expresses the result of the entire Psalm.

• v. 2: The quotative frame וַיֹּאמַ֡ר indicates the entire rest of the psalm should be boxed and indented as the content of this speech. For visual simplicity, however, we have left the text above without these features.
• v. 8: The waw at the beginning of these verse functions at a discourse-level to connect the events described therein to the “calling” episode in v. 7. Many translations represent this discourse function with sequential “then” (e.g., ESV, NRSV, NLT, NKJV, HCSB; cf. Hupfeld 1885, 369; Craigie 2004, 174).
• v. 8: The כִּי has scope over all of v. 8. In other words, the propositional content of all three clauses would separately be true if followed by the כִּי clause, but otherwise, the reason for the events described therein would not be apparent.
• v. 10: The waw connects sequentially to all of v. 9. So Delitzsch (1996, 160) “Thus enraged and breathing forth His wrath, Jahve bowed the heavens, i.e., caused them to bend towards the earth”.
• v. 16: The initial waw is clearly sequential to the events described in vv. 14–15, cf. ESV “then”.
• v. 20: On wayyiqtol here cohering with what follows, see the note in verbal semantics. The כִּי is most straightforwardly read as having scope over both clauses since their meanings are close, syntax closely bound and illocutions identical (cf. Hupfeld 1855, 380).
• v. 22-23: Both of these verses ground v. 21 (cf. v. 22 in HCSB “Indeed...”). Evidence for this is the fact that דרכי יהוה in v. 22 and משפט in v. 23 are parallel; one may also find this parallelism in Psalm 119:30.
• v. 24: A number of translations reflect an interpretation where ואהי continues the grounds for v. 21 (e.g. “I was also perfect with him...” ASV, cf. NASB95, NKJV). Being “blameless”, however, most naturally follows as a result of keeping God's ways (see Deut. 18:13; cf. Baethgen 1904, 52 “Und so war ich ohne Tadel vor ihm”).
• v. 26-27: The waw in 27a introduces a contrastive topic rather than coordinating a homogenous set. We represent this therefore with a dashed line.
• v. 28-30: Each verse begins with a כִּי clause. The question is whether each grounds the one before it or if they all ground the same thing.
  • v. 28 clearly grounds the series vv. 26 and 27. The fact that the referring phrases in all three verses are references to types rather than individuals strongly invites this interpretation.
  • The “light” in v. 29 most likely refers to David's life. When he is close to death, the Lord revives him. This principle echoes 1 Sam 2:6. The כי here therefore exemplifies what comes before with what the speaker knows to be true (cf. BHRG, 435).
  • If v. 29 is understood as a reference to David's life, then v. 30 again grounds this statement by an example within the logic of the Psalm. God saves David's life by strengthening him. David knows God lights his lame (=saves his life) because David can route an army.
• v. 32: The כִּי here is clearly not a logical/event-oriented כִּי. Rather the כִּי is a speech-act/subjective כִּי. In v. 32 the Psalmist is grounding the illocution of v. 31. There the Psalmist expresses his confidence that God's ways are indeed perfect. He can make this illocutionary move because he knows that there is none like God (v. 32).
• v. 33: On the relative clause reading, see the notes in grammar.
• v. 40: “The wayyiqtol is also used for a conclusion or a summary: Gn 23.20 “Thus it is that the field passed into Abraham’s possession (וַיָּ֫קָם)”; 2.1; Josh 10.40; 1Sm 17.50; 30.3; 31.6; 2Sm 24.8; Ru 1.22. In these examples one can hardly speak of succession” (JM §118i) Note the repetition of lexemes from v. 33, the beginning of the previous section.
• v. 43: As Briggs (1907, 149) states, “The str[ophe] concludes with a couplet bringing to climax the final victory”. A few translations render this waw with “then” (NASB95, NKJV, KJV), whereas others simply leave it untranslated. That is, they translate it sequentially. While the sequential reading is also available, it is weakened by (1) the fact that a similar statement was made in v. 41, and (2) a departure from (vv. 40b–42) and subsequent return to (in this verse) the larger “discourse topic” of the various ways in which God equips the Psalmist for battle. The return to this larger concern results in the “climax” mentioned above and invites a conclusive/resultative . We have therefore rendered with “so”.

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Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

• Summary Visual
• Analysis Chart

Summary Visual

SPEAKER		VERSES		SPEECH ACT SECTIONS		ADDRESSEE
David		v. 1 For the director By YHWH's servant, David, who recited the words of this song to YHWH when YHWH had rescued him from the palm of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.				YHWH
		v. 2 And he said, “I shall keep loving you, YHWH, my strength.		Profession of commitment and confidence (vv. 2–4) “I shall keep loving you, YHWH, my strength” (v. 2b) “My God is my rock” (v. 3b)
		v. 3 YHWH is my cleft and my fortress and my rescuer. My God is my rock, in him do I seek protection, my shield and horn of my deliverance, my fortified tower and my refuge, my deliverer, who delivers me from violence.
		v. 4 I cry out to YHWH, since he is praiseworthy, and I am delivered from my enemies.
		v. 5 The breaker waves of Death surrounded me. And the torrents of No Return began to overwhelm me.		Recounting Past Distress (vv. 5–6) “The breaker waves of Death surrounded me!” (v. 5a)
		v. 6 The cords of the World of the Dead entangled me. Death's traps rushed upon me.
		v. 7 In my distress I cry out to YHWH. And to my God do I cry for help. He hears my cry from his temple. And my cry for help before him comes into his ears.		Profession of confidence (v. 7) I cry out to YHWH and he hears me from his temple!
		v. 8 And the earth quivered and quaked. And the mountains' foundations began to shake. And they trembled. For he had become angry.		Recounting YHWH’s victory over his enemy (vv. 8–20) “YHWH descended” (v. 10b) “He delivered me” (v. 20b) Supporting statements “For he is pleased with me” (v. 20c)
		v. 9 Smoke went up because of his snarl. And a fire from his mouth began to consume. Coals burned from him.
		v. 10 And he bent down the heavens and descended. And a dark smog was beneath his feet.
		v. 11 And he mounted a Cherub and began to fly. And he flew swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
		v. 12 He made darkness his cover. [He made darkness] his canopy around him, the sieve of water, thick clouds of the skies.
		v. 13 Because of the brightness before him, hail and coals of fire passed.
		v. 14 And YHWH thundered in the heavens. And the Most High began to raise his voice.
		v. 15 And he shot his arrows, and dispersed them. And [he shot his] glittering arrows, and routed them.
		v. 16 And the ocean floor appeared. And the foundations of the world were revealed because of your rebuke, YHWH, because of the blast of the wind of your anger.
		v. 17 He stretched forth his hand from on high and took me. He pulled me out from many waters.
		v. 18 He rescued me from my strong enemy. And [he rescued me] from those who hate me. For they were too powerful for me.
		v. 19 They rushed upon me at the time of my calamity. And YHWH was the one in whom I trusted.
		v. 20 And he brought me out into relief. He delivered me. For he is pleased with me.
		v. 21 YHWH deals well with me according to my righteousness. He repays me according to the cleanliness of my hands.		Profession of confidence in David’s righteousness (vv. 21–30) “YHWH deals well with me according to my righteousness” (v. 21a)
		v. 22 For I have kept the ways of YHWH. And I have not turned from my God towards wicked ways.
		v. 23 For all of his rules are before me. And I will not turn his decrees away from me.
		v. 24 And I have become blameless before him. And I have kept myself from committing iniquity.
		v. 25 And YHWH has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands before his eyes.
		v. 26 You act faithfully with a faithful person. You act blamelessly with a blameless person.
		v. 27 You act with purity with one who purifies himself. And with a twisted person you act wittily.
		v. 28 For you save a humble people. And you bring down eyes that look down on others.
		v. 29 For you light my lamp, YHWH. My God gives light to my darkness.
		v. 30 For by you I can rout an army. And by my God I can scale a wall.
		v. 31 God—His way is perfect. The sayings of YHWH are true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.		Recounting YHWH’s provision of strength and victory (vv. 31–43) “I shall praise you among the nations, YHWH!” (v. 50a) Supporting statements “For who is God besides YHWH… the God who arms me with strength?” (vv. 32a, 33a) “I chased and overtook my enemies” (v. 38a)
		v. 32 For who is God besides YHWH? And who is a rock besides our God,
		v. 33 the God who arms me with strength and makes my endeavor secure?
		v. 34 He makes my feet like those of deer. And he causes me to stand upon my heights.
		v. 35 He trains my hands for war. And he strengthens my arms with a bow of bronze.
		v. 36 And you give me the shield of your victory. And your right hand supports me. And your help makes me great.
		v. 37 You enlarged my steps underneath me. And my ankles did not falter.
		v. 38 I chased my enemies and I overtook them. And I would not relent until their destruction.
		v. 39 I violently beat them, and they could not stand. They fell beneath my feet.
		v. 40 And so you armed me with strength for war. You make those who rise up against me kneel underneath me.
		v. 41 And you have made my enemies retreat from me. And as for those who hate me, I wipe them out.
		v. 42 They cry out for help, and there is no rescuer. [They cry out for help] to YHWH, and he has not answered them.
		v. 43 And I crush them like the dust on the road. I beat them like the mud of the streets.
		v. 44 You will deliver me from people's indictments. You will make me head of nations. A people I do not know will serve me.		Praise for future strength and victory (vv. 44–51) “You will make me head of nations” (v. 44b). “Therefore I shall praise you among the nations, YHWH” (v. 50a)
		v. 45 As soon as they hear rumors of me they will show obedience to me. Foreigners will submit to me.
		v. 46 Foreigners will lose heart and tremble from their fortresses.
		v. 47 YHWH lives! And my rock is blessed! And the God of my rescue is exalted!
		v. 48 God—who gives me vengeance, and subdues peoples underneath me.
		v. 49 You who deliver me from my enemies will indeed exalt me over those who rise up against me. You will rescue me from the violent man.
		v. 50 Therefore I shall praise you among the nations, YHWH! And I shall sing praise to your name,
		v. 51 you who makes the deliverance of his king spectacular, and performs acts of loyalty for his anointed one, for David, and for his seed, forever.”

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse	Hebrew	CBC	Sentence type	Illocution (general)	Illocution with context	Macro speech act	Intended perlocution (Think)	Intended perlocution (Feel)	Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line	Hebrew text	English translation	Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type	Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type	More specific illocution type with paraphrased context	Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings	What the speaker intends for the address to think	What the speaker intends for the address to feel	What the speaker intends for the address to do

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text*	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text*	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.

Verse	Text (Hebrew)	Text (CBC)	Sentence type	Illocution (general)	Illocution with context	Macro speech act			Intended perlocution (Think)	Intended perlocution (Feel)	Intended perlocution (Do)	Speech Act Notes
1	לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ ׀	For the director
	לְעֶ֥בֶד יְהוָ֗ה	By YHWH's servant,
	לְדָ֫וִ֥ד	David,
	אֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּ֨ר ׀ לַיהוָ֗ה אֶת־דִּ֭בְרֵי הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את	who recited the words of this song to YHWH
	בְּי֤וֹם הִֽצִּיל־יְהוָ֘ה אוֹת֥וֹ מִכַּ֥ף כָּל־אֹ֝יְבָ֗יו וּמִיַּ֥ד שָׁאֽוּל׃	when YHWH had rescued him from the palm of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2	וַיֹּאמַ֡ר	And he said,
	אֶרְחָמְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חִזְקִֽי׃	“I shall keep loving you, YHWH, my strength.	Declarative	Commissive	Committing to continue to obey YHWH's commandments.	Expressing commitment to and confidence in YHWH.	Expressing commitment to and confidence in YHWH.	Praising God for rescuing David by strengthening David and ensuring David's continual reign.	YHWH will recognize David's commitment to keeping YHWH's commands.	YHWH will continue to love him as well.	YHWH will continue to provide David strength and protection.	On the specific meaning of “love” here, see the note in lexical semantics.
3	יְהוָ֤ה ׀ סַֽלְעִ֥י וּמְצוּדָתִ֗י וּמְפַ֫לְטִ֥י	YHWH is my cleft and my fortress and my rescuer.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that YHWH will always protect him.				YHWH will recognize how much David trusts in him.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to protecting him and delivering him from danger.	YHWH will continue to provide David strength and protection.
	אֵלִ֣י צ֭וּרִי אֶֽחֱסֶה־בּ֑וֹ מָֽגִנִּ֥י וְקֶֽרֶן־יִ֝שְׁעִ֗י מִשְׂגַּבִּי *וּמְנוּסִי מֹשִׁעִי מֵחָמָס תֹּשִׁעֵנִי׃*	My God is my rock, in him do I seek protection, my shield and horn of my deliverance, my fortified tower and my refuge, my deliverer, who delivers me from violence.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that YHWH will always protect him.				YHWH will recognize how much David trusts in him.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to protecting him and delivering him from danger.	YHWH will continue to provide David strength and protection.
4	מְ֭הֻלָּל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהוָ֑ה	I cry out to YHWH, since he is praiseworthy,	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that he can cry out to YHWH on account of YHWH being praiseworthy.				YHWH will recognize how much David trusts in him.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to always hearing he when cries out.	YHWH will continue to deliver David from distress whenever he cries out in the future.
	וּמִן־אֹ֝יְבַ֗י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃	and I am delivered from my enemies.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that YHWH will always hear him.				YHWH will recognize how much David trusts in him.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to always hearing when he cries out.	YHWH will continue to deliver David from distress whenever he cries out in the future.	Note that the verb, translated here with the English simple present, is habitual. That is, he is always delivered. This habitual action contributes to the illocution of expressing confidence (David knows he will be delivered), rather than simply asserting a fact. Note also that the Addressee is YHWH, which also makes it less likely that his goal is the transfer of information.
5	אֲפָפ֥וּנִי *מִשְׁבְּרֵי*־מָ֑וֶת	The breaker waves of Death surrounded me.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting past distress.	Recounting past distresses to illustrate the need to trust God.	Recounting past distresses to illustrate the need to trust God.		YHWH will remember times when he was in distress.	YHWH will feel stirred towards anger at whatever brings David distress but towards compassion and faithfulness for David.	YHWH will resolve to deliver him from future distresses.
	וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃	And the torrents of No Return began to overwhelm me.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting past distress.				YHWH will remember times when he was in distress.	YHWH will feel stirred towards anger at whatever brings David distress but towards compassion and faithfulness for David.	YHWH will resolve to deliver him from future distresses.
6	חֶבְלֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל סְבָב֑וּנִי	The cords of the World of the Dead entangled me.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting past distress.				YHWH will remember times when he was in distress.	YHWH will feel stirred towards anger at whatever brings David distress but towards compassion and faithfulness for David.	YHWH will resolve to deliver him from future distresses.
	קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃	Death's traps rushed upon me.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting past distress.				YHWH will remember times when he was in distress.	YHWH will feel stirred towards anger at whatever brings David distress but towards compassion and faithfulness for David.	YHWH will resolve to deliver him from future distresses.
7	בַּצַּר־לִ֤י ׀ אֶֽקְרָ֣א יְהוָה֮	In my distress I cry out to YHWH.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his dependence on YHWH in times of distress.	Expressing confidence in YHWH.	Expressing confidence in YHWH.		YHWH will be reminded how YHWH characteristically hears David when he cries out.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to protecting him and delivering him from danger.	David wants YHWH to continue to hear him and respond to him whenever he cries out.
	וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַ֪י אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ	And to my God do I cry for help.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his dependence on YHWH in times of distress.				YHWH will be reminded how YHWH characteristically hears David when he cries out.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to protecting him and delivering him from danger.	David wants YHWH to continue to hear him and respond to him whenever he cries out.
	יִשְׁמַ֣ע מֵהֵיכָל֣וֹ קוֹלִ֑י	He hears my cry from his temple.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that YHWH will always hear him.				YHWH will be reminded how YHWH characteristically hears David when he cries out.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to protecting him and delivering him from danger.	David wants YHWH to continue to hear him and respond to him whenever he cries out.
	וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֤יו תָּב֬וֹא בְאָזְנָֽיו׃	And my cry for help before him comes into his ears.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that YHWH will always hear him.				YHWH will be reminded how YHWH characteristically hears David when he cries out.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to protecting him and delivering him from danger.	David wants YHWH to continue to hear him and respond to him whenever he cries out.
8	וַתִּגְעַ֬שׁ וַתִּרְעַ֨שׁ ׀ הָאָ֗רֶץ	And the earth quivered and quaked.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting what happens when YHWH gets angry.	Depicting YHWH's victory against enemies and his rescue.	Depicting YHWH's victory against enemies and his rescue and thereby demonstrating YHWH's loyalty to David.		YHWH will remember his anger at David's enemies.	YHWH will continue to feel continue to feel anger at his enemies in the future.	YHWH will continue to become angry at David's and YHWH's enemies in the future.
	וּמוֹסְדֵ֣י הָרִ֣ים יִרְגָּ֑זוּ	And the mountains' foundations began to shake.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting what happens when YHWH gets angry.				YHWH will remember his anger at David's enemies.	YHWH will continue to feel continue to feel anger at his enemies in the future.	YHWH will continue to become angry at David's and YHWH's enemies in the future.
	וַ֝יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּ	And they trembled.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting what happens when YHWH gets angry.				YHWH will remember his anger at David's enemies.	YHWH will continue to feel continue to feel anger at his enemies in the future.	YHWH will continue to become angry at David's and YHWH's enemies in the future.
	כִּי־חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃	For he had become angry.
9	עָ֘לָ֤ה עָשָׁ֨ן ׀ בְּאַפּ֗וֹ	Smoke went up because of his snarl.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing what it looks like for YHWH to become angry.				YHWH will remember his anger at David's enemies.	YHWH will continue to feel continue to feel anger at his enemies in the future.	YHWH will continue to become angry at David's and YHWH's enemies in the future.
	וְאֵשׁ־מִפִּ֥יו תֹּאכֵ֑ל	And a fire from his mouth began to consume.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing what it looks like for YHWH to become angry.				YHWH will remember his anger at David's enemies.	YHWH will continue to feel continue to feel anger at his enemies in the future.	YHWH will continue to become angry at David's and YHWH's enemies in the future.
	גֶּ֝חָלִ֗ים בָּעֲר֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃	Coals burned from him.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing what it looks like for YHWH to become angry.				YHWH will remember his anger at David's enemies.	YHWH will continue to feel continue to feel anger at his enemies in the future.	YHWH will continue to become angry at David's and YHWH's enemies in the future.
10	וַיֵּ֣ט שָׁ֭מַיִם	And he bent down the heavens	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH prepared to come down from his heavenly abode.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וַיֵּרַ֑ד	and descended.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH prepared to come down from his heavenly abode.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽיו׃	And a dark smog was beneath his feet.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing YHWH's appearance as he came to the rescue.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
11	וַיִּרְכַּ֣ב עַל־כְּ֭רוּב	And he mounted a Cherub	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH began to descend out of the heavens.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וַיָּעֹ֑ף	and began to fly.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH began to descend out of the heavens.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וַ֝יֵּ֗דֶא עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃	And he flew swiftly upon the wings of the wind.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH began to descend out of the heavens.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
12	יָ֤שֶׁת חֹ֨שֶׁךְ ׀ סִתְר֗וֹ	He made darkness his cover.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing YHWH's terrifying appearance in a storm.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֥יו סֻכָּת֑וֹ *חֶשְׁרַת*־מַ֝֗יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים׃	[He made darkness] his canopy around him, the sieve of water, thick clouds of the skies.
13	מִנֹּ֗גַהּ נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ *עָבְר֑וּ* בָּ֝רָ֗ד וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃	Because of the brightness before him, hail and coals of fire passed.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing YHWH's terrifying appearance in a storm.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
14	וַיַּרְעֵ֬ם בַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה	And YHWH thundered in the heavens.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH appeared in a terrifying storm.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וְ֭עֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּ֣ן קֹל֑וֹ **	And the Most High began to raise his voice.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH appeared in a terrifying storm.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
15	וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִ֭צָּיו	And he shot his arrows,	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH fought against his enemies.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם	and dispersed them.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH fought against his enemies.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	*וּבְרָקִ֥ים*	And [he shot his] glittering arrows,	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH fought against his enemies.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃	and routed them.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how YHWH fought against his enemies.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
16	וַיֵּ֤רָא֨וּ ׀ אֲפִ֥יקֵי מַ֗יִם	And the ocean floor appeared.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how the waters fled after YHWH's attack				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וַֽיִּגָּלוּ֮ מוֹסְד֪וֹת תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה מִ֝נִּשְׁמַ֗ת ר֣וּחַ אַפֶּֽךָ׃	And the foundations of the world were revealed because of your rebuke, YHWH, because of the blast of the wind of your anger.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how the waters fled after YHWH's attack				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
17	יִשְׁלַ֣ח מִ֭מָּרוֹם	He stretched forth his hand from on high	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting the moment YHWH rescued David.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	יִקָּחֵ֑נִי	and took me.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting the moment YHWH rescued David.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃	He pulled me out from many waters.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting the moment YHWH rescued David.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
18	יַצִּילֵ֗נִי מֵאֹיְבִ֥י עָ֑ז	He rescued me from my strong enemy.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting the moment YHWH rescued David.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗י	And [he rescued me] from those who hate me.
	כִּֽי־אָמְצ֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	For they were too powerful for me.
19	יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי בְיוֹם־אֵידִ֑י	They rushed upon me at the time of my calamity.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how his enemies attacked him.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	וַֽיְהִי־יְהוָ֖ה *מִשְׁעָ֣ן* לִֽי׃	And YHWH was the one in whom I trusted.	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that he trusted in YHWH amidst the distressing situation.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
20	וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֥נִי לַמֶּרְחָ֑ב	And he brought me out into relief.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting YHWH's rescue.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel committed to rescuing him in the future.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	יְ֝חַלְּצֵ֗נִי	He delivered me.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting YHWH's rescue.				YHWH will remember how YHWH rescued David.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him.	YHWH will continue to resolve to rescuing him in the future.
	כִּ֘י חָ֥פֵֽץ בִּֽי׃	For he is pleased with me.
21	יִגְמְלֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֣ה כְּצִדְקִ֑י	YHWH deals well with me according to my righteousness.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence in YHWH's dealings.	Expressing confidence in his righteousness and purity before YHWH.	Expressing that YHWH will deal justly with him according to his righteousness.		YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
	כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי׃	He repays me according to the cleanliness of my hands.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence in YHWH's dealings.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
22	כִּֽי־שָׁ֭מַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה	For I have kept the ways of YHWH.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining YHWH's actions and intervention towards David.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
	וְלֹֽא־רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃	And I have not turned from my God towards wicked ways.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining YHWH's actions and intervention towards David.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
23	כִּ֣י כָל־מִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו לְנֶגְדִּ֑י	For all of his rules are before me.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining YHWH's actions and intervention towards David.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
	וְ֝חֻקֹּתָ֗יו לֹא־אָסִ֥יר מֶֽנִּי׃	And I will not turn his decrees away from me.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining YHWH's actions and intervention towards David.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
24	וָאֱהִ֣י תָמִ֣ים עִמּ֑וֹ	And I have become blameless before him.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining YHWH's actions and intervention towards David.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
	וָ֝אֶשְׁתַּמֵּ֗ר מֵעֲוֺנִֽי׃	And I have kept myself from committing iniquity.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining YHWH's actions and intervention towards David.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
25	וַיָּֽשֶׁב־יְהוָ֣ה לִ֣י כְצִדְקִ֑י	And YHWH has repaid me according to my righteousness,	Declarative	Assertive	Reaffirming that YHWH repays David because of David's righteousness.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
	כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃	according to the cleanliness of my hands before his eyes.	Declarative	Assertive	Reaffirming that YHWH repays David because of David's purity.				YHWH will continue to reckon David righteous and pure.	YHWH will continue to feel pleased with him on account of his righteousness.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
26	עִם־חָסִ֥יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד	You act faithfully with a faithful person.	Declarative	Assertive	Celebrating that YHWH acts faithfully with a faithful person	Demonstrating that repaying David according to his righteousness is consistent with God's character.			YHWH will pay attention to this characteristic of YHWH.	YHWH will feel committed to acting with justice.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
	עִם־גְּבַ֥ר תָּ֝מִ֗ים תִּתַּמָּֽם׃	You act blamelessly with a blameless person.	Declarative	Assertive	Celebrating that YHWH acts blamelessly with someone who is blameless				YHWH will pay attention to this characteristic of YHWH.	YHWH will feel committed to acting with justice.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
27	עִם־נָבָ֥ר תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר	You act with purity with one who purifies himself.	Declarative	Assertive	Celebrating that YHWH acts with purity with one who purifies himself.				YHWH will pay attention to this characteristic of YHWH.	YHWH will feel committed to acting with justice.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
	וְעִם־עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃	And with a twisted person you act wittily.	Declarative	Assertive	Celebrating that YHWH acts wittily with a twisted person.				YHWH will pay attention to this characteristic of YHWH.	YHWH will feel committed to acting with justice.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
28	כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה עַם־עָנִ֣י תוֹשִׁ֑יעַ	For you save a humble people.	Declarative	Assertive	Exemplifying how YHWH acts reciprocally.				YHWH will pay attention to this characteristic of YHWH.	YHWH will feel committed to acting with justice.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
	וְעֵינַ֖יִם רָמ֣וֹת תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃	And you bring down eyes that look down on others.	Declarative	Assertive	Exemplifying how YHWH acts reciprocally.				YHWH will pay attention to this characteristic of YHWH.	YHWH will feel committed to acting with justice.	YHWH will continue to act justly with him.
29	כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה תָּאִ֣יר נֵרִ֑י יְהוָ֥ה	For you light my lamp, YHWH.	Declarative	Assertive	Illustrating how YHWH acts with the righteous person.			YHWH will remember all the times YHWH saved his life.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to deliver him whenever he is in distress.	YHWH will resolve to continue to save his life in the future.
	אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י יַגִּ֥יהַּ חָשְׁכִּֽי׃	My God gives light to my darkness.	Declarative	Assertive	Illustrating how YHWH acts with the righteous person.			YHWH will remember all the times YHWH saved his life.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to deliver him whenever he is in distress.	YHWH will resolve to continue to save his life in the future.
30	כִּֽי־בְ֭ךָ *אָרִ֣ץ* גְּד֑וּד	For by you I can rout an army.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing amazement at the extent of the power YHWH gives him.			YHWH will remember how he always strengthens David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to strengthen him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to strengthen him in the future.
	וּ֝בֵֽאלֹהַ֗י אֲדַלֶּג־שֽׁוּר׃	And by my God I can scale a wall.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing amazement at the extent of the power YHWH gives him.			YHWH will remember how he always strengthens David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to strengthen him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to strengthen him in the future.
31	הָאֵל֮ תָּמִ֪ים דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ	God—His way is perfect.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that God's ways are perfect.	Praising God for his incomparability	Depicting God giving strength and defeating enemies.	YHWH will recognize David's devotion to him.	YHWH will feel pleased by David's praise.	YHWH will resolve to continue to protect him.
	אִמְרַֽת־יְהוָ֥ה צְרוּפָ֑ה	The sayings of YHWH are true.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that the sayings of YHWH are true.			YHWH will recognize David's devotion to him.	YHWH will feel pleased by David's praise.	YHWH will resolve to continue to protect him.
	מָגֵ֥ן ה֝֗וּא לְכֹ֤ל ׀ הַחֹסִ֬ים בּֽוֹ׃	He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his confidence that YHWH protects those who take refuge in him.			YHWH will recognize David's devotion to him.	YHWH will feel pleased by David's praise.	YHWH will resolve to continue to protect him.
32	כִּ֤י מִ֣י אֱ֭לוֹהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה	For who is God besides YHWH?	Interrogative	Expressive	Expressing his certainty that there is no God besides YHWH.			YHWH will recognize David's devotion to him.	YHWH will feel pleased by David's praise.	YHWH will resolve to continue to protect him.
	וּמִ֥י צ֝֗וּר זוּלָתִ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃	And who is a rock besides our God,	Interrogative	Expressive	Expressing certainty that only Israel's God can protect his people.			YHWH will recognize David's devotion to him.	YHWH will feel pleased by David's praise.	YHWH will resolve to continue to protect him.
33	הָ֭אֵל הַמְאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חָ֑יִל	the God who arms me with strength
	וַיִּתֵּ֖ן תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכִּֽי׃	and makes my endeavor secure?
34	מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַי כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת	He makes my feet like those of deer.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining how YHWH arms David with strength.	Praising God for strengthening him and giving him victory over his enemies		YHWH will be reminded how he always strengthens David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to strengthen him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to strengthen him in the future.
	וְעַ֥ל בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י יַעֲמִידֵֽנִי׃	And he causes me to stand upon my heights.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining how YHWH arms David with strength.			YHWH will be reminded how he always strengthens David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to strengthen him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to strengthen him in the future.
35	מְלַמֵּ֣ד יָ֭דַי לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה	He trains my hands for war.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining how YHWH arms David with strength.			YHWH will be reminded how he always strengthens David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to strengthen him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to strengthen him in the future.
	וְֽ*נִחַ֥ת* קֶֽשֶׁת־נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה זְרוֹעֹתָֽי׃	And he strengthens my arms with a bow of bronze.	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining how YHWH arms David with strength.			YHWH will be reminded how he always strengthens David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to strengthen him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to strengthen him in the future.
36	וַתִּתֶּן־לִי֮ מָגֵ֪ן יִ֫שְׁעֶ֥ךָ	And you give me the shield of your victory.	Declarative	Assertive	Re-affirming that YHWH gives protection.			YHWH will be reminded how he always protects David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to protect him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to protect him in the future.
	וִֽימִינְךָ֥ תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי	And your right hand supports me.	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that God supports David by giving him strength.			YHWH will be reminded how he always protects David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to strengthen him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to strengthen him in the future.
	וְֽ*עֶזְרָתְךָ֥* תַרְבֵּֽנִי׃	And your help makes me great.	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that God makes David great.			YHWH will be reminded how he always protects David.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to strengthen him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to strengthen him in the future.
37	תַּרְחִ֣יב צַעֲדִ֣י תַחְתָּ֑י	You enlarged my steps underneath me.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how God equipped him with strength.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
	וְלֹ֥א מָ֝עֲד֗וּ קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃	And my ankles did not falter.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how God equipped him with strength.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
38	אֶרְדּ֣וֹף א֭וֹיְבַי	I chased my enemies	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how David defeated enemies.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
	וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם	and I overtook them.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how David defeated enemies.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
	וְלֹֽא־אָ֝שׁוּב	And I would not relent	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how David defeated enemies.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
	עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃	until their destruction.
39	אֶ֭מְחָצֵם	I violently beat them,	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how David defeated enemies.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
	וְלֹא־יֻ֣כְלוּ ק֑וּם	and they could not stand.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how David defeated enemies.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
	יִ֝פְּל֗וּ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽי	They fell beneath my feet.	Declarative	Assertive	Recounting how David defeated enemies.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
40	וַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חַ֭יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה	And so you armed me with strength for war.	Declarative	Assertive	Re-affirming that God equips David with strength.			YHWH will remember how he equipped David for battle.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
	תַּכְרִ֖יעַ קָמַ֣י תַּחְתָּֽי׃	You make those who rise up against me kneel underneath me.	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH makes those who rise up against David kneel before him.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continuing to equip him.	YHWH will resolve to continue to equip him in the future.
41	וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף	And you have made my enemies retreat from me.	Declarative	Assertive	Asserting that YHWH has handed over David's enemies to him.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continue to give him victory over his enemies.	YHWH will resolve to give him victory in the future.
	וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃	And as for those who hate me, I wipe them out.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing how YHWH always hands over David's enemies to him.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continue to give him victory over his enemies.	YHWH will resolve to give him victory in the future.
42	יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ	They cry out for help,	Declarative	Assertive	Describing what happens when the enemies cry out for help.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continue to give him victory over his enemies.	YHWH will resolve to give him victory in the future.
	וְאֵין־מוֹשִׁ֑יעַ	and there is no rescuer.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing what happens when enemies cry out for help.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continue to give him victory over his enemies.	YHWH will resolve to give him victory in the future.
	*אֶל*־יְ֝הוָ֗ה	[They cry out for help] to YHWH,	Declarative	Assertive	Describing what happens when enemies cry out for help.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continue to give him victory over his enemies.	YHWH will resolve to give him victory in the future.
	וְלֹ֣א עָנָֽם׃	and he has not answered them.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing what happens when enemies cry out for help.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continue to give him victory over his enemies.	YHWH will resolve to give him victory in the future.
43	וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗ם כְּעָפָ֥ר עַל־פְּנֵי־*אֹ֑֑רַח*	And I crush them like the dust on the road.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing how severely he defeats his enemies.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continue to give him victory over his enemies.	YHWH will resolve to give him victory in the future.
	כְּטִ֖יט חוּצ֣וֹת *אֶרְקָעֵֽם*׃	I beat them like the mud of the streets.	Declarative	Assertive	Describing how severely he defeats his enemies.			YHWH will be reminded how he has always given David victory over his enemies.	YHWH will feel committed to continue to give him victory over his enemies.	YHWH will resolve to give him victory in the future.
44	תְּפַלְּטֵנִי֮ מֵרִ֪יבֵ֫י *עַםִ֥ים*	You will deliver me from people's indictments.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his certainty that YHWH will indeed deliver him from peoples' indictments.	Praising God for giving him dominion over all the earth.	Praising God for future strength and victory.	YHWH will consider how he has delivered him in the past.	YHWH will feel committed to delivering him in the future.	YHWH will deliver David from peoples' indictments in the future.
	תְּ֭שִׂימֵנִי לְרֹ֣אשׁ גּוֹיִ֑ם	You will make me head of nations.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his certainty that YHWH will make him head of nations.			YHWH will consider how he has delivered him in the past.	YHWH will feel committed to delivering him in the future.	YHWH will make David head of nations.
	עַ֖ם לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי יַֽעַבְדֽוּנִי׃	A people I do not know will serve me.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his certainty that a people he does not know will serve him.			YHWH will remember his covenant promises to him of universal kingship (cf. Psa. 2; 89:27).	YHWH will feel committed to delivering him in the future.	YHWH will make his deliverance so spectacular that people serve him willingly.	cf. v. 51
45	לְשֵׁ֣מַֽע אֹ֭זֶן יִשָּׁ֣מְעוּ לִ֑י	As soon as they hear rumors of me they will show obedience to me.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his certainty that people will show obedience to him at mere rumors.			YHWH will remember his covenant promises to him of universal kingship (cf. Psa. 2; 89:27).	YHWH will feel committed to keeping his covenant promises.	YHWH will establish the universal dominion of his line.
	בְּנֵֽי־נֵ֝כָ֗ר יְכַחֲשׁוּ־לִֽי׃	Foreigners will submit to me.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his certainty that foreigners will submit to him.			YHWH will remember his covenant promises to him of universal kingship (cf. Psa. 2; 89:27).	YHWH will feel committed to keeping his covenant promises.	YHWH will establish the universal dominion of his line.
46	בְּנֵי־נֵכָ֥ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ	Foreigners will lose heart	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his certainty that foreigners will lose heart.			YHWH will remember his covenant promises to him of universal kingship (cf. Psa. 2; 89:27).	YHWH will feel committed to keeping his covenant promises.	YHWH will establish the universal dominion of his line.
	וְ֝יַחְרְג֗וּ מִֽמִּסְגְּרֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃	and tremble from their fortresses.	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing his certainty that foreigners will come trembling out of their fortresses.			YHWH will remember his covenant promises to him of universal kingship (cf. Psa. 2; 89:27).	YHWH will feel committed to keeping his covenant promises.	YHWH will establish the universal dominion of his line.
47	חַי־יְ֭הוָה	YHWH lives!	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing an elevated sense of joy at God's character.	Praising God for his continual protection of him and his line		YHWH will recognize how much David considers him to be worthy of worship.	YHWH will feel pleased by his statements of praise.	YHWH will accept his praise.
	וּבָר֣וּךְ צוּרִ֑י	And my rock is blessed!	Declarative	Expressive	Expressing an elevated sense of joy at God's character.			YHWH will recognize how much David considers him to be worthy of worship.	YHWH will feel pleased by his statements of praise.	YHWH will accept his praise.
	וְ֝יָר֗וּם אֱלוֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃	And the God of my rescue is exalted!	Declarative	Expressive Assertive	Expressing an elevated sense of joy at God's character. Demonstrating God's character and the result of what happens when David cries out.			YHWH will recognize how much David considers him to be worthy of worship.	YHWH will feel pleased by his statements of praise.	YHWH will accept his praise.
48	הָאֵ֗ל הַנּוֹתֵ֣ן נְקָמ֣וֹת לִ֑י	God—who gives me vengeance,
	וַיַּדְבֵּ֖ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתָּֽי׃	and subdues peoples underneath me.
49	מְפַלְּטִ֗י מֵאֹ֫יְבָ֥י אַ֣ף מִן־קָ֭מַי תְּרוֹמְמֵ֑נִי	You who deliver me from my enemies will indeed exalt me over those who rise up against me.	Declarative	Assertive	Demonstrating God's character and the result of what happens when David cries out.			YHWH will recognize how much David considers him to be worthy of worship.	YHWH will feel pleased by his statements of praise.	YHWH will accept his praise.
	מֵאִ֥ישׁ חָ֝מָ֗ס תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃	You will rescue me from the violent man.	Declarative	Assertive	Demonstrating God's character and the result of what happens when David cries out.			YHWH will recognize how much David considers him to be worthy of worship.	YHWH will feel pleased by his statements of praise.	YHWH will accept his praise.
50	עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ אוֹדְךָ֖ בַגּוֹיִ֥ם ׀ יְהוָ֑ה	Therefore I shall praise you among the nations, YHWH!	Declarative	Commissive	Committing himself to praise YHWH among the nations.	Committing himself to Praise YHWH among the nations.		YHWH will recognize how much David considers him to be worthy of worship.	YHWH will feel pleased by his statements of praise.	YHWH will accept his praise.
	וּלְשִׁמְךָ֥ אֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃	And I shall sing praise to your name,	Imperative	Commissive	Committing himself to sing praise to YHWH's name.			YHWH will recognize how much David considers him to be worthy of worship.	YHWH will feel pleased by his statements of praise.	YHWH will accept his praise.
51	מַגְדִּיל֮ יְשׁוּע֪וֹת מַ֫לְכּ֥וֹ	you who makes the deliverance of his king spectacular,
	וְעֹ֤שֶׂה חֶ֨סֶד ׀ לִמְשִׁיח֗וֹ לְדָוִ֥ד וּלְזַרְע֗וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃	and performs acts of loyalty for his anointed one, for David, and for his seed, forever.”

Emotional Analysis

  What is Emotional Analysis?

This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.

• Analysis
• Think-Feel-Do
• Circumplex

Emotional Analysis Chart

  Legend

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text*	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text*	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.

Verse	Text (Hebrew)	Text (CBC)	Proposition (Emotional Analysis)	The Psalmist Feels	Emotional Analysis Notes
1	לַמְנַצֵּ֤חַ ׀	For the director
	לְעֶ֥בֶד יְהוָ֗ה	By YHWH's servant,
	לְדָ֫וִ֥ד	David,
	אֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּ֨ר ׀ לַיהוָ֗ה אֶת־דִּ֭בְרֵי הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את	who recited the words of this song to YHWH
	בְּי֤וֹם הִֽצִּיל־יְהוָ֘ה אוֹת֥וֹ מִכַּ֥ף כָּל־אֹ֝יְבָ֗יו וּמִיַּ֥ד שָׁאֽוּל׃	when YHWH had rescued him from the palm of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2	וַיֹּאמַ֡ר	And he said,
	אֶרְחָמְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חִזְקִֽי׃	“I shall keep loving you, YHWH, my strength.	David loves YHWH	The psalmist is confident that YHWH will continue to give him strength.
3	יְהוָ֤ה ׀ סַֽלְעִ֥י וּמְצוּדָתִ֗י וּמְפַ֫לְטִ֥י	YHWH is my cleft and my fortress and my rescuer.	YHWH protects David.	The psalmist is confident that YHWH will continue to be his cleft, fortress and rescuer.
	אֵלִ֣י צ֭וּרִי אֶֽחֱסֶה־בּ֑וֹ מָֽגִנִּ֥י וְקֶֽרֶן־יִ֝שְׁעִ֗י מִשְׂגַּבִּי *וּמְנוּסִי מֹשִׁעִי מֵחָמָס תֹּשִׁעֵנִי׃*	My God is my rock, in him do I seek protection, my shield and horn of my deliverance, my fortified tower and my refuge, my deliverer, who delivers me from violence.	YHWH protects David.	David is confident that YHWH will continue to be his rock, shield, horn of salvation, fortified tower, and deliverer who delivers him from violence.
4	מְ֭הֻלָּל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהוָ֑ה	I cry out to YHWH, since he is praiseworthy,	David cries out to YHWH.	David is confident since YHWH delivers him from all his enemies.
	וּמִן־אֹ֝יְבַ֗י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃	and I am delivered from my enemies.	YHWH delivers David.	David is confident since YHWH delivers him from all his enemies.
5	אֲפָפ֥וּנִי *מִשְׁבְּרֵי*־מָ֑וֶת	The breaker waves of Death surrounded me.	Enemies surround David.	David feels distressed as he recalls how his enemies surrounded him as if Death itself had sent them in the form of breaker waves.
	וְֽנַחֲלֵ֖י בְלִיַּ֣עַל יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃	And the torrents of No Return began to overwhelm me.	Enemies begin to overwhelm David.	David feels distressed as he recalls how his enemies surrounded him as if a torrent was pulling him down to Belliya'al.
6	חֶבְלֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל סְבָב֑וּנִי	The cords of the World of the Dead entangled me.	Enemies surround David.	David feels distressed as he recalls how his enemies surrounded him as if a hunter wrapped him with cords like a prey.
	קִ֝דְּמ֗וּנִי מ֣וֹקְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃	Death's traps rushed upon me.	Enemies rush upon David.	David feels distressed as he recalls how his enemies surrounded him as if a hunter's trap had sprung up and caught him.
7	בַּצַּר־לִ֤י ׀ אֶֽקְרָ֣א יְהוָה֮	In my distress I cry out to YHWH.	David cries out to YHWH.	David feels confident because he can always cry out to YHWH in distress.
	וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַ֪י אֲשַׁ֫וֵּ֥עַ	And to my God do I cry for help.	David cries to David's God for help.	David feels confident because YHWH always answers when he cries out in distress.
	יִשְׁמַ֣ע מֵהֵיכָל֣וֹ קוֹלִ֑י	He hears my cry from his temple.	YHWH hears David's cry.	David feels relieved because YHWH always answers when he cries out in distress.
	וְ֝שַׁוְעָתִ֗י לְפָנָ֤יו תָּב֬וֹא בְאָזְנָֽיו׃	And my cry for help before him comes into his ears.	David's cry comes into YHWH's ears	David feels relieved because YHWH always answers when he cries out in distress.
8	וַתִּגְעַ֬שׁ וַתִּרְעַ֨שׁ ׀ הָאָ֗רֶץ	And the earth quivered and quaked.	The earth quivers and quakes.	David is filled with awe at the great display of God's anger.
	וּמוֹסְדֵ֣י הָרִ֣ים יִרְגָּ֑זוּ	And the mountains' foundations began to shake.	The mountains' foundations shake and tremble.	David is filled with awe at the great display of God's anger.
	וַ֝יִּתְגָּֽעֲשׁ֗וּ	And they trembled.	The mountains' foundations tremble.	David is filled with awe at the great display of God's anger.
	כִּי־חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃	For he had become angry.	YHWH is angry.
9	עָ֘לָ֤ה עָשָׁ֨ן ׀ בְּאַפּ֗וֹ	Smoke went up because of his snarl.	Smoke goes up.	David is filled with awe at the great display of God's anger.
	וְאֵשׁ־מִפִּ֥יו תֹּאכֵ֑ל	And a fire from his mouth began to consume.	A fire consumes.	David is filled with awe at the great display of God's anger.
	גֶּ֝חָלִ֗ים בָּעֲר֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃	Coals burned from him.	Coals burn.	David is filled with awe at the great display of God's anger.
10	וַיֵּ֣ט שָׁ֭מַיִם	And he bent down the heavens	YHWH bends down the heavens.	David is confident as he recalls how YHWH is moved to cosmic action on his behalf.
	וַיֵּרַ֑ד	and descended.	YHWH descends.	David is confident as he recalls how YHWH is moved to cosmic action on his behalf.
	וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽיו׃	And a dark smog was beneath his feet.	There is a dark smog beneath YHWH's feet.	David is confident as he recalls how YHWH is moved to cosmic action on his behalf.
11	וַיִּרְכַּ֣ב עַל־כְּ֭רוּב	And he mounted a Cherub	YHWH mounts a Cherub.	David is confident as he recalls how YHWH came to his rescue.
	וַיָּעֹ֑ף	and began to fly.	YHWH flies.	David is confident as he recalls how YHWH came to his rescue.
	וַ֝יֵּ֗דֶא עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃	And he flew swiftly upon the wings of the wind.	YHWH flies swiftly.	David is confident as he recalls how the one who can fly on the wings of the wind came to his rescue.
12	יָ֤שֶׁת חֹ֨שֶׁךְ ׀ סִתְר֗וֹ	He made darkness his cover.	YHWH makes darkness his covering.	David is in awe as he describes YHWH's appearance in a thunderstorm.
	סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֥יו סֻכָּת֑וֹ *חֶשְׁרַת*־מַ֝֗יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים׃	[He made darkness] his canopy around him, the sieve of water, thick clouds of the skies.
13	מִנֹּ֗גַהּ נֶ֫גְדּ֥וֹ *עָבְר֑וּ* בָּ֝רָ֗ד וְגַֽחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃	Because of the brightness before him, hail and coals of fire passed.	Hail and coals of fire pass.	David is in awe as he describes YHWH's appearance in a thunderstorm.
14	וַיַּרְעֵ֬ם בַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה	And YHWH thundered in the heavens.	YHWH thunders.	David is in awe as he describes YHWH's appearance in a thunderstorm.
	וְ֭עֶלְיוֹן יִתֵּ֣ן קֹל֑וֹ **	And the Most High began to raise his voice.	The Most High raises his voice.	David is in awe as he describes YHWH's appearance in a thunderstorm.
15	וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח חִ֭צָּיו	And he shot his arrows,	YHWH shoots his arrows.	David is in awe and feels triumphant as he recounts how YHWH fought from heaven with his lightning.
	וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם	and dispersed them.	YHWH disperses the waves, the torrents, the cords and the traps.	David is in awe and feels triumphant as he recounts how YHWH fought from heaven with his lightning.
	*וּבְרָקִ֥ים*	And [he shot his] glittering arrows,	YHWH shoots his arrows.	David is in awe and feels triumphant as he recounts how YHWH fought from heaven with his lightning.
	וַיְהֻמֵּֽם׃	and routed them.	YHWH routs the waves, the torrents, the cords and the traps.	David is in awe and feels triumphant as he recounts how YHWH fought from heaven with his lightning.
16	וַיֵּ֤רָא֨וּ ׀ אֲפִ֥יקֵי מַ֗יִם	And the ocean floor appeared.	The ocean floor appears.	David is in awe and feels triumphant as he recounts how YHWH defeated the primordial waters of chaos.
	וַֽיִּגָּלוּ֮ מוֹסְד֪וֹת תֵּ֫בֵ֥ל מִגַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְהוָ֑ה מִ֝נִּשְׁמַ֗ת ר֣וּחַ אַפֶּֽךָ׃	And the foundations of the world were revealed because of your rebuke, YHWH, because of the blast of the wind of your anger.	The foundations of the world are revealed.	David is in awe and feels triumphant as he recounts how YHWH defeated the primordial waters of chaos.
17	יִשְׁלַ֣ח מִ֭מָּרוֹם	He stretched forth his hand from on high	YHWH stretches forth his hand.	David is relieved and thankful to have his life saved.
	יִקָּחֵ֑נִי	and took me.	YHWH takes David.	David is relieved and thankful to have his life saved.
	יַֽ֝מְשֵׁ֗נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃	He pulled me out from many waters.	YHWH pulls David out.	David is relieved and thankful to have his life saved.
18	יַצִּילֵ֗נִי מֵאֹיְבִ֥י עָ֑ז	He rescued me from my strong enemy.	YHWH rescues David.	David is relieved to have his life saved from those who were too powerful for him.
	וּ֝מִשֹּׂנְאַ֗י	And [he rescued me] from those who hate me.
	כִּֽי־אָמְצ֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃	For they were too powerful for me.	David's enemies are powerful.
19	יְקַדְּמ֥וּנִי בְיוֹם־אֵידִ֑י	They rushed upon me at the time of my calamity.	David's enemies rush upon him.	David is confident that the one in whom he trusts rescues him.
	וַֽיְהִי־יְהוָ֖ה *מִשְׁעָ֣ן* לִֽי׃	And YHWH was the one in whom I trusted.	YHWH is the one in whom David trusts.
20	וַיּוֹצִיאֵ֥נִי לַמֶּרְחָ֑ב	And he brought me out into relief.	YHWH brings David out.	David feels relief as he recounts how YHWH delivered him.
	יְ֝חַלְּצֵ֗נִי	He delivered me.	YHWH delivers David.	David feels relief as he recounts how YHWH delivered him.
	כִּ֘י חָ֥פֵֽץ בִּֽי׃	For he is pleased with me.	YHWH is pleased with David.
21	יִגְמְלֵ֣נִי יְהוָ֣ה כְּצִדְקִ֑י	YHWH deals well with me according to my righteousness.	YHWH deals well with David.	David feels confident because of his righteousness and purity.
	כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי׃	He repays me according to the cleanliness of my hands.	YHWH repays David.	David feels confident because of his righteousness and purity.
22	כִּֽי־שָׁ֭מַרְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה	For I have kept the ways of YHWH.	David keeps the ways of YHWH.	David feels confident because he has kept the ways of the YHWH.
	וְלֹֽא־רָ֝שַׁ֗עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃	And I have not turned from my God towards wicked ways.	David turns towards wicked ways.	David feels confident because he has not acted wickedly.
23	כִּ֣י כָל־מִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו לְנֶגְדִּ֑י	For all of his rules are before me.	All of YHWH's rules are before David.	David feels confident because all of YHWH's rules are before David.
	וְ֝חֻקֹּתָ֗יו לֹא־אָסִ֥יר מֶֽנִּי׃	And I will not turn his decrees away from me.	David turns YHWH's decrees away.	David feels confident because he has not turned away YHWH's decrees.
24	וָאֱהִ֣י תָמִ֣ים עִמּ֑וֹ	And I have become blameless before him.	David is blameless.	David feels confident he is blameless.
	וָ֝אֶשְׁתַּמֵּ֗ר מֵעֲוֺנִֽי׃	And I have kept myself from committing iniquity.	David guards himself.	David feels confident he has kept himself from iniquity.
25	וַיָּֽשֶׁב־יְהוָ֣ה לִ֣י כְצִדְקִ֑י	And YHWH has repaid me according to my righteousness,	YHWH repays David.	David feels confident after being repaid for his righteousness.
	כְּבֹ֥ר יָ֝דַ֗י לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃	according to the cleanliness of my hands before his eyes.	YHWH repays David.	David feels confident after being repaid for his purity.
26	עִם־חָסִ֥יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד	You act faithfully with a faithful person.	YHWH acts faithfully.	David feels confident because he himself is faithful.
	עִם־גְּבַ֥ר תָּ֝מִ֗ים תִּתַּמָּֽם׃	You act blamelessly with a blameless person.	YHWH acts blamelessly.	David feels confident because he himself is blameless.
27	עִם־נָבָ֥ר תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר	You act with purity with one who purifies himself.	YHWH acts with purity.	David feels confident because he regularly purifies himself.
	וְעִם־עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃	And with a twisted person you act wittily.	YHWH acts wittily.	David feels a sense of well-being that the wicked cannot outwit YHWH.
28	כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה עַם־עָנִ֣י תוֹשִׁ֑יעַ	For you save a humble people.	YHWH saves a humble people.	David feels a sense of well-being since he is humble.
	וְעֵינַ֖יִם רָמ֣וֹת תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃	And you bring down eyes that look down on others.	YHWH brings down eyes that look down on others.	David feels a sense of well-being that arrogant people will be brought to justice.
29	כִּֽי־אַ֭תָּה תָּאִ֣יר נֵרִ֑י יְהוָ֥ה	For you light my lamp, YHWH.	YHWH saves David's life.	David feels thankful that YHWH always saves his life.
	אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י יַגִּ֥יהַּ חָשְׁכִּֽי׃	My God gives light to my darkness.	YHWH gives light to David's darkness.	David feels thankful that YHWH always saves his life.
30	כִּֽי־בְ֭ךָ *אָרִ֣ץ* גְּד֑וּד	For by you I can rout an army.	David routes an army.	David feels amazed at how much YHWH strengthens him.
	וּ֝בֵֽאלֹהַ֗י אֲדַלֶּג־שֽׁוּר׃	And by my God I can scale a wall.	David scales a wall.	David feels amazed at how much YHWH strengthens him.
31	הָאֵל֮ תָּמִ֪ים דַּ֫רְכּ֥וֹ	God—His way is perfect.	God's way is perfect.	David feels confident in God's ways.
	אִמְרַֽת־יְהוָ֥ה צְרוּפָ֑ה	The sayings of YHWH are true.	The sayings of YHWH are true.	David feels confident in God's sayings.
	מָגֵ֥ן ה֝֗וּא לְכֹ֤ל ׀ הַחֹסִ֬ים בּֽוֹ׃	He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.	YHWH protects those who take refuge in him.	David feels confident in God's protection.
32	כִּ֤י מִ֣י אֱ֭לוֹהַּ מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה	For who is God besides YHWH?	YHWH is God.	David feels convinced that only YHWH is God.	The emotion “convinced” here tries to account for the certainty implicit in the rhetorical questions.
	וּמִ֥י צ֝֗וּר זוּלָתִ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃	And who is a rock besides our God,	Israel's God protects.	David feels convinced that only YHWH can protect his people.
33	הָ֭אֵל הַמְאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חָ֑יִל	the God who arms me with strength	God arms David with strength.
	וַיִּתֵּ֖ן תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכִּֽי׃	and makes my endeavor secure?	YHWH makes David successful.
34	מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַי כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת	He makes my feet like those of deer.	YHWH makes David sure-footed.	David feels triumphant because of his God-given strength.
	וְעַ֥ל בָּ֝מֹתַ֗י יַעֲמִידֵֽנִי׃	And he causes me to stand upon my heights.	YHWH gives David victory.	David feels triumphant because of his God-given strength.
35	מְלַמֵּ֣ד יָ֭דַי לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה	He trains my hands for war.	YHWH trains David.	David feels triumphant because of his God-given strength.
	וְֽ*נִחַ֥ת* קֶֽשֶׁת־נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה זְרוֹעֹתָֽי׃	And he strengthens my arms with a bow of bronze.	YHWH strengthens David.	David feels triumphant because of his God-given strength.
36	וַתִּתֶּן־לִי֮ מָגֵ֪ן יִ֫שְׁעֶ֥ךָ	And you give me the shield of your victory.	YHWH gives David protection.	David feels secure since God is his shield.
	וִֽימִינְךָ֥ תִסְעָדֵ֑נִי	And your right hand supports me.	YHWH supports David.	David feels triumphant since he is supported by God's very own power.
	וְֽ*עֶזְרָתְךָ֥* תַרְבֵּֽנִי׃	And your help makes me great.	YHWH makes David great.	David feels triumphant since God makes him great.
37	תַּרְחִ֣יב צַעֲדִ֣י תַחְתָּ֑י	You enlarged my steps underneath me.	YHWH makes David run fast.	David feels triumphant that God empowers him and keeps him from falling.
	וְלֹ֥א מָ֝עֲד֗וּ קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃	And my ankles did not falter.	David's ankles do not falter.	David feels triumphant that God empowers him and keeps him from falling.
38	אֶרְדּ֣וֹף א֭וֹיְבַי	I chased my enemies	David chases his enemies.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	וְאַשִּׂיגֵ֑ם	and I overtook them.	David overtakes his enemies.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	וְלֹֽא־אָ֝שׁוּב	And I would not relent	David relents.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃	until their destruction.	the enemies are destroyed.
39	אֶ֭מְחָצֵם	I violently beat them,	David violently beats his enemies.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.	There is a hint of mockery at the pathetic strength of the enemies compared to his own.
	וְלֹא־יֻ֣כְלוּ ק֑וּם	and they could not stand.	The enemies stand.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	יִ֝פְּל֗וּ תַּ֣חַת רַגְלָֽי	They fell beneath my feet.	The enemies fall.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
40	וַתְּאַזְּרֵ֣נִי חַ֭יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה	And so you armed me with strength for war.	YHWH arms David with strength.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	תַּכְרִ֖יעַ קָמַ֣י תַּחְתָּֽי׃	You make those who rise up against me kneel underneath me.	YHWH makes those who rise up against David kneel.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
41	וְֽאֹיְבַ֗י נָתַ֣תָּה לִּ֣י עֹ֑רֶף	And you have made my enemies retreat from me.	YHWH makes David's enemies retreat form David.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	וּ֝מְשַׂנְאַ֗י אַצְמִיתֵֽם׃	And as for those who hate me, I wipe them out.	David wipes out those who hate him.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
42	יְשַׁוְּע֥וּ	They cry out for help,	The enemies cry out for help.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.	There is a hint of mockery at the pathetic strength of the enemies compared to his own.
	וְאֵין־מוֹשִׁ֑יעַ	and there is no rescuer.	There is someone to rescue the enemies.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	*אֶל*־יְ֝הוָ֗ה	[They cry out for help] to YHWH,	The enemies cry out for help.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	וְלֹ֣א עָנָֽם׃	and he has not answered them.	YHWH answers the enemies.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
43	וְֽאֶשְׁחָקֵ֗ם כְּעָפָ֥ר עַל־פְּנֵי־*אֹ֑֑רַח*	And I crush them like the dust on the road.	David crushes the enemies.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
	כְּטִ֖יט חוּצ֣וֹת *אֶרְקָעֵֽם*׃	I beat them like the mud of the streets.	David beats the enemies.	David feels triumphant after defeating his enemies.
44	תְּפַלְּטֵנִי֮ מֵרִ֪יבֵ֫י *עַםִ֥ים*	You will deliver me from people's indictments.	YHWH delivers David.	David feels confident that YHWH will exalt him.
	תְּ֭שִׂימֵנִי לְרֹ֣אשׁ גּוֹיִ֑ם	You will make me head of nations.	YHWH makes David head of nations.	David feels confident that YHWH will exalt him.
	עַ֖ם לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי יַֽעַבְדֽוּנִי׃	A people I do not know will serve me.	A people that David does not know serve him.	David feels confident that YHWH will exalt him such that foreign nations serve him.
45	לְשֵׁ֣מַֽע אֹ֭זֶן יִשָּׁ֣מְעוּ לִ֑י	As soon as they hear rumors of me they will show obedience to me.	People show obedience to David.	David feels confident that YHWH will exalt him such that foreign nations serve him.
	בְּנֵֽי־נֵ֝כָ֗ר יְכַחֲשׁוּ־לִֽי׃	Foreigners will submit to me.	Foreigners submit to David.	David feels confident that YHWH will exalt him such that foreign nations serve him.
46	בְּנֵי־נֵכָ֥ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ	Foreigners will lose heart	Foreigners lose heart.	David feels confident that YHWH will exalt him such that foreign nations serve him.
	וְ֝יַחְרְג֗וּ מִֽמִּסְגְּרֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃	and tremble from their fortresses.	Foreigners tremble.	David feels confident that YHWH will exalt him such that foreign nations serve him.
47	חַי־יְ֭הוָה	YHWH lives!	YHWH lives.	David is full of joy that his God is a living god worthy of worship.	Throughout the Psalms, joy is often the accompanying emotion of praise (e.g., Psa 43:4; 68:3; 100:2)
	וּבָר֣וּךְ צוּרִ֑י	And my rock is blessed!	YHWH is blessed.	David is full of joy that his God is a living god worthy of worship.
	וְ֝יָר֗וּם אֱלוֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃	And the God of my rescue is exalted!	The God of David's rescue is exalted	David is full of joy that his God is a God who avenges.
48	הָאֵ֗ל הַנּוֹתֵ֣ן נְקָמ֣וֹת לִ֑י	God—who gives me vengeance,	YHWH gives vengeance.
	וַיַּדְבֵּ֖ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתָּֽי׃	and subdues peoples underneath me.	YHWH subdues people.
49	מְפַלְּטִ֗י מֵאֹ֫יְבָ֥י אַ֣ף מִן־קָ֭מַי תְּרוֹמְמֵ֑נִי	You who deliver me from my enemies will indeed exalt me over those who rise up against me.	YHWH delivers David.	David is full of joy that his God delivers him from his enemies.
	מֵאִ֥ישׁ חָ֝מָ֗ס תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃	You will rescue me from the violent man.	YHWH rescues David.	David is full of joy that his God rescues him from the violent man.
50	עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ אוֹדְךָ֖ בַגּוֹיִ֥ם ׀ יְהוָ֑ה	Therefore I shall praise you among the nations, YHWH!	David praises YHWH.	David is full of joy as he praises God.
	וּלְשִׁמְךָ֥ אֲזַמֵּֽרָה׃	And I shall sing praise to your name,	David sings praise.	David is full of joy as he praises God.
51	מַגְדִּיל֮ יְשׁוּע֪וֹת מַ֫לְכּ֥וֹ	you who makes the deliverance of his king spectacular,	YHWH makes the deliverance of his king spectacular
	וְעֹ֤שֶׂה חֶ֨סֶד ׀ לִמְשִׁיח֗וֹ לְדָוִ֥ד וּלְזַרְע֗וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃	and performs acts of loyalty for his anointed one, for David, and for his seed, forever.”	YHWH performs acts of loyalty for David.

Summary Visual

(Click visual to enlarge).

Affective Circumplex

  What is the affective circumplex?

The affective circumplex locates emotions on two axes: (1) positive vs. negative valence; and (2) active vs. passive activation. Since emotional terminology often carries unintended cultural connotations, the purpose of the circumplex is to ease translation of emotions across different languages and cultures.

File:Psalm 18 - Circumplex.jpg

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