18:32 The one true God 1 gives 2 me strength; 3
he removes 4 the obstacles in my way. 5
18:39 You give me strength 6 for battle;
you make my foes kneel before me. 7
1 tn Heb “the God.” The prefixed article emphasizes the
2 tn Heb “is the one who clothes.” For similar language see 1 Sam 2:4; Pss 65:6; 93:1. The psalmist employs a generalizing hymnic style in vv. 32-34; he uses participles in vv. 32a, 33a, and 34a to describe what God characteristically does on his behalf.
3 tn 2 Sam 22:33 reads, “the God is my strong refuge.”
sn Gives me strength. As the following context makes clear, this refers to physical and emotional strength for battle (see especially v. 39).
4 tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive here carries along the generalizing force of the preceding participle.
5 tn Heb “he made my path smooth.” The Hebrew term תָּמִים (tamim, “smooth”) usually carries a moral or ethical connotation, “blameless, innocent.” However, in Ps 18:33 it refers to a pathway free of obstacles. The reality underlying the metaphor is the psalmist’s ability to charge into battle without tripping (see vv. 33, 36).
6 tn Heb “clothed me.” See v. 32.
7 tn Heb “you make those who rise against me kneel beneath me.”
sn My foes kneel before me. For ancient Near Eastern parallels, see R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 268.