Psalm 18:38

The LORD Is My Rock · Psalm 18:1–50
Read Psalm 18

Translations

Modern
I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.
Traditional
I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
Literal
I wounded them, and they were not able to rise; they have fallen under my feet.
Latin
Confringam illos, nec poterunt stare; cadent subtus pedes meos.

Original

Hebrew
English
I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.

Notes

With help from the Divine Warrior, the psalmist experienced victory over his enemies.

This psalm describes a royal story of God rescuing his king. A similar version of this psalm appears in 2 Samuel 22:1–51. The psalm encourages those who hear the earlier prayers for help in Psalms 16 and 17.

The psalmist describes the dramatic nature of God’s rescue in three different ways (Psalm 18:7–15, 16–19, 30–36). The psalm also offers hope that a future Son of David will completely defeat evil (Psalm 18:43–50; compare Psalm 2).

The psalms in this section emphasize integrity and purity (Psalms 17:15; 18:20–26; 19:13–14). They describe people as living in God’s presence (Psalms 16:9–11; 17:15) and remaining steadfast (15:5; 16:8).

Parallels

2 Samuel 22:1–51

Glossary

David Jude, Letter of Music Psalms, Book of Samuel, Books of First and Second