110 Heb “from the strivings of my people.” In this context רִיב (riv, “striving”) probably has a militaristic sense (as in Judg 12:2; Isa 41:11), and עַם (’am, “people”) probably refers more specifically to an army (for other examples, see the verses listed in 766 עַם 2.d). The suffix “my” suggests David is referring to attacks by his own countrymen, the “people” being Israel. However, the parallel text in Ps 18:43 omits the suffix.
111 Heb “a people whom I did not know serve me.” In this context the verb “know” (יָדַע, yada’) probably refers to formal recognition by treaty. People who were once not under the psalmist’s authority now willingly submit to his rulership to avoid being conquered militarily (see vv. 45–46). The language may recall the events recorded in 2 Sam 8:9–10 and 10:19.
112 For the meaning “to be weak; to be powerless” for the verb כָּחַשׁ (kakhash), see Ps 109:24. Verse 46, which also mentions foreigners, favors this interpretation. Another option is to translate “cower in fear” (see Deut 33:29; Pss 66:3; 81:15).
113 Heb “at a report of an ear they submit to me.” The report of David’s exploits is so impressive that those who hear it submit to his rulership without putting up a fight.
114 Heb “wither, wear out.”
115 The translation assumes a reading וְיַחְרְגוּ (véyakhrégu, “and they quaked”) rather than the וְיַחְגְּרוּ (véyakhgéru, “and they girded themselves”). See the note at .
116 Heb “from.”
117 Heb “prisons.” Their besieged cities are compared to prisons.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“You delivered me from strife with my people;

you kept me as the head of the nations;

people whom I had not known served me.

Foreigners came cringing to me;

as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.

Foreigners lost heart

and came trembling out of their fortresses.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples;

you have preserved me as the head of nations.

People I did not know now serve me,

foreigners cower before me;

as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

They all lose heart;

they come trembling from their strongholds.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You have freed me from the feuds among my people;

you have preserved me as head of nations;

a people I had not known serve me.

Foreigners submit to me cringing;

as soon as they hear, they obey me.

Foreigners lose heart

and come trembling from their fortifications.

NLTNew Living Translation

“You gave me victory over my accusers.

You preserved me as the ruler over nations;

people I don’t even know now serve me.

Foreign nations cringe before me;

as soon as they hear of me, they submit.

They all lose their courage

and come trembling from their strongholds.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

You delivered me from the strife of my people;

you preserved me as the head of the nations.

A people I had not known served me.

Children of a foreign land came cringing to me;

when they heard of me, they became obedient to me.

Children of a foreign land lost heart

and came trembling from their strongholds.

KJV 1900King James Version

Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people,

Thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen:

A people which I knew not shall serve me.

Strangers shall submit themselves unto me:

As soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

Strangers shall fade away,

And they shall be afraid out of their close places.

Public Domain