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.”
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.”