2 Samuel 22:33

The one true God ¹  is my mighty refuge; ²  he removes ³  the obstacles in my way. ⁴ 

Ex 15:2; De 18:13; Job 22:3; Ps 18:32; Ps 27:1; Ps 28:7,8; Ps 31:4; Ps 46:1; Ps 101:2,6; Ps 119:1; Isa 41:10; Zec 10:12; 2Co 12:9; Eph 6:10; Php 4:13; Heb 13:21

¹ tn Heb “the God.” See the note at v. 31.

² tc 4QSam^a has מְאַזְּרֵנִי (mÿ’azzÿreni, “the one girding me with strength”) rather than the MT מָעוּזִּי (ma’uzzi, “my refuge”). See as well Ps 18:32.

³ tn The prefixed verbal form with vav consecutive here carries along the generalizing tone of the preceding line.

⁴ tn Heb “and he sets free (from the verb נָתַר, natar) [the] blameless, his [Kethib; “my” (Qere)] way.” The translation follows Ps 18:32 in reading “he made my path smooth.” The 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).