Aramaic Targum to Psalms Chapter 18
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לְשַׁבָּחָא עַל נִסַיָא דְאִתְרְחִישׁוּ לְעַבְדָא דַייָ לְדָוִד דְשַׁבָּח בִּנְבוּאָה קֳדָם יְיָ יַת פִּתְגָמֵי שִׁירְתָא הָדָא עַל כָּל יוֹמַיָא דְשֵׁזְבֵיהּ יְיָ מִן יְדָא דְכָל בַּעֲלֵי דְבָבוֹי וּמֵחַרְבָּא דְשָׁאוּל:
For praise. About the miracles that occurred to the servant of the LORD, David, who sang in prophecy in the presence of the LORD the words of this song about all the days that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the sword of Saul.
וַאֲמַר אֲחַבְּבִנָךְ יְיָ תּוּקְפִי:
And he said: I will love you, O LORD, my strength.
יְיָ תּוּקְפִי וְרֻחְצָנִי וּמְשֵׁזִיב יָתִי אֱלָהָא דְאִתְרְעֵי בִּי קָרְבַנִי לִדְחַלְתֵּיהּ תְּרֵיסִי דְמִן קֳדָמוֹי אִתְיְהַב לִי תְקוֹף וּפוּרְקָן עַל בַּעֲלֵי דְבָבֵי רָחְצָנִי:
O LORD, my strength and my security and the one who delivers me; the God who has chosen me has brought me near to fear him;⁷⁸ my shield, from whose presence is given me strength and redemption over my enemies; my security.
footnotes: ⁷⁸ to his fear
אֲמַר דָוִד בְתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא אֲנָא מְצַלֵי קֳדָם יְיָ וּמִן בַּעֲלֵי דְבָבִי פָּרִיק יָתִי:
David said in praise: “I pray in the LORD’s presence, and from my enemies he redeems me.”
אַקְפַתְנִי עָקָא כְאִתָּא דְיָתְבָא עַל מַתְבְּרָא וְחֵיל לֵית לָהּ לְמֵילַד וְהִיא מְסַכְּנָא לְמֵמָת וְסִיעַת טָלוֹמַיָא בַּעֲתַת יָתִי:
Distress has surrounded me, like a woman who sits on the birthstool and has no strength to give birth and so is in danger of death; a band of abusive men has terrified me.
מַשִׁרְיַת חַיָבִין אַקְפוּנִי אַקְדוּמִי יָתִי דִמְזַיְנִין בְּמָנֵי קְטוֹל:
Armies of sinners have surrounded me; those armed with deadly weapons have confronted me.
בִּדְעָיְקָא לִי אֲנָא מְצַלֵי קֳדָם יְיָ וּקְדָם אֱלָהִי אֲנָא מִתְחַנֵן וּמְקַבֵּל צְלוֹתִי מִן הֵיכְלֵיהּ וּבָעוּתִי קֳדָמוֹי מִתְקַבְּלָא בְּאוּדְנוֹי וּמִתְעַבְדָא:
When I am in distress, I pray in the presence of the LORD; and in the presence of my God I make supplication; and he accepts my prayer from his temple,⁷⁹ and my petition in his presence is received by his ears, and is granted.
footnotes: ⁷⁹ from his holy temple in heaven
וְאִתְרְגִיפַת וְאִתְרְגִישַׁת אַרְעָא וְאֻשְׁיָת טוּרַיָא זְעוּ וְאִתְרְטִישׁוּ מְטוּל דִתְקֵיף לֵיהּ:
The earth trembled and shook and the foundations of the mountains tottered, and split, for he was angry with it.
סְלִיק זְדוֹנֵיהּ דְפַרְעֹה הֵיךְ קוּטְרָא דִבְכֵן שְׁלַח רוּגְזֵיהּ כְּאֶשָׁא בָּעֲרָא דְמִן קֳדָמוֹי מִשְׁתֵּצְיָא מְזוֹפִיתֵיהּ כְּגוּמְרִין דִי נוּר דָלְקָא מִמֵימְרֵיהּ:
The arrogance of Pharaoh⁸⁰ went up like smoke;⁸¹ then he sent his anger like a burning fire that consumes⁸² before him; his rebuke burns at his utterance like coals of fire.
footnotes: ⁸⁰ + the wicked ⁸¹ + before him ⁸² reading מישיצייא
וְאַרְכֵן שְׁמַיָא וְאִתְגְלֵי יְקָרֵיהּ וַעֲנַן אֲמִטְתָא כַּבֵּשׁ קֳדָמוֹי:
And he bent down the heavens, and his glory was manifested, a dark cloud a path before him.
וְאִתְגְלֵי בִּגְבוּרְתֵּיהּ עַל כְּרוּבִין קַלִילִין וּדְבַר בִּתְקוֹף עַל גַדְפֵי זַעֲפָא:
So he was manifested in his strength over swift cherubs; and he proceeded in might on the wings of the storm-wind.
וְאַשְׁרֵי שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ בְּעַרְפְּלָא וְאִתְחְזַר בַּעֲנָנֵי יְקָרֵיהּ הֵיךְ מְטַלַלְתָּא וְאַחֵית מִטְרִין דְרַעֲוָא עַל עַמֵיהּ וּמַיִן תַּקִיפִין מִן רִכְפַּת עֲנָנִין דְקִבְּלָא עַל רַשִׁיעַיָא מִן רוּמֵיהּ דְעָלְמָא:
And he made his presence dwell in the mist, and surrounded himself with the clouds of his glory as a covering; and he made favorable rains to fall on his people, and mighty waters from the massed clouds of darkness on the wicked from the eternal heights.
מִן זְהוֹר יְקָרֵיהּ עֲנָנֵי שְׁמַיָא עֲבַרוּ בִּמְזוֹפִיתָא בְּגוּמְרִין דְנוּר בַּרְדָא דָלְקָא מִן מֵימְרֵיהּ:
From the splendor of his glory the clouds of heaven passed by in rebuke like the coals of fire and burning hail from his word.
וְאַכְלֵי מִן שְׁמַיָא יְיָ וְעִלָאָה אֲרִים מֵימְרֵיהּ רָמָא בַרְדָא וְגוּמְרִין דִי נוּר:
And the LORD gave a shout from heaven, and the Most High raised up his utterance; he cast hail and coals of fire.
וְשַׁדַר מֵימְרֵיהּ הֵיךְ גִירִין וּבַרְדִין וּבַרְקִין סַגִיאִין יְשַׂגְשְׂגוּן:
And he sent his word like arrows, and scattered them; [he sent] many lightning bolts, and confounded them.
וְאִתְחַמִיאוּ עִמְקֵי מַיָא וְאִתְגְלִיאוּ שִׁתְאֲסַיָא דְתֵבֵל מִמְזוֹפִיתָא מִן קֳדָם יְיָ מִמֵימַר תְּקוֹף רוּגְזָךְ:
And the depths of the sea⁸³ became visible, and the pillars of the world were uncovered at the rebuke of the LORD, from the utterance of your mighty wrath.
footnotes: ⁸³ following 2 Sam. 22:16.
שְׁלַח נְבִיוֹהִי מֶלֶךְ תַּקִיף דְיָתֵיב בִּתְקוֹף רוּמָא דַבְּרַנִי שֵׁזְבַנִי מֵעַמְמִין סַגִיאִין:
He sent *his prophets, [he who is] a mighty king who reigns in strength;*⁸⁴ he took me [and] delivered me from many Gentiles.
footnotes: ⁸⁴ + on high
שֵׁזְבַנִי מִן סָנְאַי אֲרוּם עֲשִׁינִין הִינוּן וּמִן בַּעֲלֵי דְבָבִי אֲרוּם אִתְגַבַּרוּ עֲלָי:
He delivered me from my enemies, for they are strong; from my foes, for they prevailed against me.
אַקְדִימוּ לִי בְיוֹם טִלְטוּלִי וַהֲוָה מֵימְרָא דַייָ סָמִיךְ לִי:
They confronted me in the day of my wandering; but the word of the LORD was my support.
וְאַפֵּק יָתִי לִרְוָחָא שֵׁזְבַנִי מְטוּל דְאִתְרְעֵי בִי:
And he brought me out to a broad place, he delivered me because he was pleased with me.⁸⁵
footnotes: ⁸⁵ + said David
יִגְמְלִנַנִי יְיָ כִזְכוּתִי כִּבְרִירוּת יְדֵי יְתִיב לִי:
The LORD will requite me⁸⁶ according to my merit; according to the cleanness of my hands he will answer me.
footnotes: ⁸⁶ repay me
מְטוּל דִנְטָרֵית אוֹרְחָן דְתַקְנָן קֳדָם יְיָ וְלָא הַלְכֵית בִּרְשַׁע קֳדָם יְיָ:
For I have kept the proper ways in the LORD’s presence; and I have not walked in evil before the LORD.⁸⁷
footnotes: ⁸⁷ my God
מְטוּל דְכָל דִינוֹ גְלוֹי לְקִבְלִי לְמֶעְבַּדְהוֹן וּקְיָמוֹי לָא אַעְדֵי מֶנִי:
For all his judgments are revealed in my sight, to do them; and his covenants I will not remove⁸⁸ from me.
footnotes: ⁸⁸ or, he has not removed
וַהֲוֵיתִי שְׁלִים בִּדְחַלְתֵּיהּ וַהֲוֵיתִי נָטִיר נַפְשִׁי מֵחוֹבִין:
And I was⁸⁹ blameless in fear of him; and I kept my soul from sins.
footnotes: ⁸⁹ I will be
וּפְרַע יְיָ לִי הֵיךְ זְכוּתִי כִּבְרִירוּת אַיְדִי קֳדָם מֵימְרֵיהּ:
And the LORD rewarded me according to my merit; according to the cleanness of my hands in the presence of his word.
עִם אַבְרָהָם דְאִשְׁתַּכַּח חֲסִיד קֳדָמָךְ אַסְגֵיתָא לְמֶעְבַּד חִסְדָא עִם זַרְעֵיהּ דְיִצְחָק דַהֲוָה שְׁלִים בִּדְחַלְתָּךְ אַשְׁלֶמְתָּא מֵימַר רְעוּתָךְ עִמֵיהּ:
With Abraham, who was found pious in your presence, you showed much mercy; with his seed, Isaac, who was complete in fear of you, you completed *your favorable word.*⁹⁰
footnotes: ⁹⁰ cp. Vayiqra Rabba 11:5
עִם יַעֲקֹב דַהֲוָה בְּרִיר קֳדָמָךְ בְּחַרְתָּא בְנוֹי מִן כָּל עַמְמַיָא וְאַפְרֵשְׁתָּא זַרְעֵיהּ מִן כָּל פְּסִילָא וְעִם פַּרְעֹה וְזַרְעֵיהּ וּמִצְרָאֵי דַחֲשִׁיבוּ מַחְשְׁבָן בִּישָׁן עַל עַמָךְ בַּלְבֵּלְתִּנוּן בְּמַחְשְׁבָתְהוֹן:
With Jacob, who was pure⁹¹ in your presence, you chose his sons from all the Gentiles, and separated his seed from all that is unfit; but with Pharaoh and his seed, and the Egyptians who thought evil thoughts against your people⁹², you confounded them in their thoughts.
footnotes: ⁹¹ walked in purity ⁹² + Israel
מְטוּל דְאַנְתְּ יַת עַמָא בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל דַחֲשִׁיכִין בֵּינֵי עַמְמַיָא בְּגָלוּתָא אַנְתְּ עֲתִיד לְמִפְרַק וּבְמֵימְרָךְ אוּמַיָא תַקִיפַיָא דְמִתְגַבְּרִין עֲלֵיהוֹן תַּמְאִיךְ:
Because you are going to redeem the people, the house of Israel, who are esteemed⁹³ among the peoples in exile; and by your word you will abase the mighty nations who prevail over them.
footnotes: ⁹³ needy
מְטוּל דְאַנְתְּ תַּנְהַר שְׁרָגָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל דְמִטַפְיָא בְגָלוּתָא דְאַנְתְּ הוּא מָרֵיהּ דִנְהוֹרָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל יְיָ אֱלָהִי יַפְקִנַנִי מֵחֶשְׁכָּא לִנְהוֹר יַחְמִנַנִי בְנִיחָמוּתִי דְעָלְמָא דַעֲתִיד לְמֵיתֵי לְצַדִיקַיָא:
For you will light the lamp of Israel that was extinguished in the exile, for you are the lord of the light of Israel. The LORD my God will bring me out of darkness into light⁹⁴; he will show me his eternal consolation which is to come to the righteous.
footnotes: ⁹⁴ + and shine before me
מְטוּל דִבְמֵימְרָךְ אַסְגֵי מַשִׁרְיָן וּבְמֵימַר אֱלָהִי אֶכְבּוֹשׁ כְּרַכִּין תַּקִיפִין:
For by your word I will pass through armies; and by the word of my God I will subdue mighty citadels.
אֱלָהָא דְכִוְנָן אָרְחָתֵיהּ אוֹרַיְיתָא דַייָ בְּחִירָא תְּרֵיס הוּא לְכָל דְמִתְרַחֲצִין עֲלוֹי:
God [is he] whose ways are true; the Torah of the LORD is pure; he is a shield to all who trust in him.⁹⁵
footnotes: ⁹⁵ his word
אֲרוּם נִסָא וּפוּרְקָנָא דְתַעְבֵּיד לִמְשִׁיחָךְ וּלְשִׁיוּרֵי עַמָךְ דְיִשְׁתָּאֲרוּן יוֹדוּן כָּל עַמְמַיָא אוּמַיָא וְלִשָׁנַיָא וְיֵימְרוּן לֵית אֱלָהָא אֶלָא יְיָ אֲרוּם לֵית בַּר מִנָךְ וְעַמֵךְ יֵימְרוּן לֵית דְתַקִיף אֶלָא אֱלָהָנָא:
*For because of the miracle and deliverance that you will perform for your Messiah, and for the remnants of your people who will remain, all the Gentiles, nations, and tongues will confess and say,*There is no God but the LORD, for there is none besides you; and your people⁹⁶ will say, There is none mighty except our God.
footnotes: ⁹⁶ + the house of Israel
אֱלָהָא דִמְזָרֵז לִי קָמוּר בְּחֵילָא וּמְתַקֵן שְׁלִים אָרְחִי:
God, who girds on me a belt in strength, and makes blameless my way.
דִמְשַׁוֵי רִגְלַי קַלִילִין הֵיךְ אַיָלָתָא וְעַל בֵּית תּוּקְפִי יְקַימִנָנִי:
Who makes my feet⁹⁷ like hinds’; and he will sustain me in my stronghold.
footnotes: ⁹⁷ + swift
מַלֵיף אַיְדֵי לְמֶעְבַּד קְרָבָא וּמַתְקֵיף הֵיךְ קֶשֶׁת כַּרְכּוֹמָא דַרְעָי:
Who teaches my hands to do battle, and who makes my arms as strong as a bronze bow.
וִיהַבְתְּ לִי תְקוֹף וּפוּרְקַן וִימִינָךְ תְּסֵיְיעֵנִי וּבְמֵימְרָךְ אַסְגַעְתַּנִי:
And you have given me strength and redemption; and your right hand will help me; and by your word you have multiplied me.
אַפְתֵּיתָ פְּסִיְעַתִי בְּאַתְרִי וְלָא אִזְדַעְזַא רְכוּבְתִּי:
You have broadened⁹⁸ my steps in my place, and my knee has not buckled.
footnotes: ⁹⁸ multiplied
אֶרְדוֹף סָנְאַי וְשֵׁצִיתִנוּן וְלָא שְׁבוּת עַד דִגְמַרְתִּנוּן:
I will pursue my enemies; [now] have I destroyed them, and I did not return until I finished them off.⁹⁹
footnotes: ⁹⁹ and I will overtake them, and not return until I have finished them off. (The first targum assimilates the text to 2 Sam. 22:38; the second reflects the text of the psalm.)
אֲגַמְרִנוּן וְלָא יָכִילוּ לְמֵקָם וּנְפַלוּ קְטִילִין תְּחוֹת פַּרְסָת רִגְלָי:
I will destroy them,¹⁰⁰ and they are unable to rise; and the slain have fallen under the soles of my feet.
footnotes: ¹⁰⁰ An assimilation to 2 Sam. 22:39
וְזֵרַזְתָּא לִי חֵילָא הֵיךְ קָמוֹר לְמֶעְבַּד קְרָבָא תַּבַּרְתָּא עַמְמִין דְקַיְמִין לְאַבְאָשָׁא לִי תְחוֹתָי:
And you have girded me with strength as a belt to do battle; you have defeated beneath me the Gentiles who rise up to do me harm.
וּבַעֲלֵי דְבָבִי תַּבַּרְתָּ קֳדָמַי יְהַבְתִּנוּן מְחַזְרֵי קְדַל וְסָנְאַי אֲשֵׁיצִנוּן:
And my foes you have broken in my presence; you have made them turn tail; [thus] my enemies I will destroy.
בָּעָן סָעִיד וְלֵית לְהוֹן פָּרִיק מַצְלָן קֳדָם יְיָ וְלָא מְקַבֵּל צְלוֹתְהוֹן:
They seek help, but they have no redeemer; they pray in the presence of the LORD, but he does not accept their prayer.
וְדוֹשַׁשְׁתִּינוּן הֵיךְ גַרְגִשְׁתָּא דְאַרְעָא עַל אַנְפֵּי זַעְפָּא וְהֵיךְ סְיַן אַשְׁקָקֵי בַעֲטֵית אִנוּן:
I have crushed¹⁰¹ them like clods of earth before the storm-wind; and like the mud of the streets I have trodden them.
footnotes: ¹⁰¹ trampled
תְּשֵׁזְבִנַנִי מִפְּלֻגַת עַמְמַיָא תְּנַטְרִינַנִי בְמֵיזְרֵי מַזְיָן בְּרֵישׁ עַמְמַיָא עַמָא דְלָא חַכִּימַת יִפְלְחוּנַנִי:
You will deliver me from the discords of the Gentiles; you will keep me¹⁰² by my destiny a benefactor at the head of the Gentiles; a people that I did not know shall worship me.
footnotes: ¹⁰² you have appointed me
לְשֵׁמַע אִידִין יִשְׁתַּמְעוּן לִי בְּנֵי עַמְמַיָא יְכַדְבוּן קֳדָמַי:
At the hearing of the ear, they will obey me; the sons of the peoples¹⁰³ will desert in my presence.
footnotes: ¹⁰³ foreign peoples
בְּנֵי עַמְמַיָא יְסוּפוּן וִיטַלְטְלוּן מִבִּרְנְיָתְהוֹן:
The sons of the peoples¹⁰³ above will perish, and will go into exile from their palaces.
footnotes: ¹⁰³ see above
קַיָם הוּא יְיָ וּבְרִיךְ תַּקִיפָא דְמִן קֳדָמוֹהִי מִתְיְהַב לִי תְקוֹף וּפוּרְקַן וּמְרוֹמֵם אֱלָהָא תְּקוֹף פּוּרְקָנִי:
The LORD lives, and blessed is the mighty one; for from his presence strength and redemption are given to me; and exalted is God, the strength of my redemption.
אֱלָהָא דְעָבֵד פוּרְעֲנוּתָא לִי וּמְתַבַּר עַמְמַיָא דְקַיְמִין לְאַבְאָשָׁא לִי תְחוֹתִי:
It is God who works retribution for me, and defeats beneath me the Gentiles who arise to do me harm.
מְשֵׁזְבִי מִבַּעֲלֵי דְבָבִי לְחוֹד עַל דְקָיְימִין לְאַבְאָשָׁא לִי תִּגְבְּרִנַנִי מִן גוֹג וּמַשִׁרְיָת עַמְמִין דַחֲטוֹפִין עִמְהוֹן תְּשֵׁזְבִנַנִי:
He delivers¹⁰⁴ me from my foes; indeed against those who arise to do me harm you will make me prevail; you will deliver me from Gog and the armies of rapacious Gentiles with him.
footnotes: ¹⁰⁴ redeems
מְטוּל הֵיכְנָא אוֹדֶה קֳדָמָךְ בֵּינֵי עַמְמַיָא יְיָ וְלִשְׁמָךְ אֲזַמֵר תּוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא:
Because of this, I will give praise in your presence among the Gentiles, O LORD; and I will sing praises to your name.
מַסְגֵי לְמֶעְבַּד פֻּרְקָן עִם מַלְכֵּיהּ וַעֲבַד טִיבוּ לִמְשִׁיחֵיהּ לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעֵיהּ עַד עָלְמָא:
He works abundant redemption with his king, and shows favor to his anointed, to David and his seed forever.