108 2 Sam 22:38 reads “destroy.”
109 Or “smash them.” 2 Sam 22:39 reads, “and I wiped them out and smashed them.”
110 Heb “until they are unable to rise.” 2 Sam 22:39 reads, “until they do not rise.”
111 They fall at my feet. For ancient Near Eastern parallels, see O. Keel, The Symbolism of the Biblical World, 294–97.
112 Heb “clothed me.” See v. 32.
113 Heb “you make those who rise against me kneel beneath me.” My foes kneel before me. For ancient Near Eastern parallels, see R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 268.
114 Heb “and [as for] my enemies, you give to me [the] back [or “neck”].” The idiom “give [the] back” means “to cause [one] to turn the back and run away.” Cf. Exod 23:27.
115 Those who hate me. See v. 17, where it is the Lord who delivered the psalmist from those who hated him.
116 Heb “but there is no deliverer.”
117 Heb “to the Lord.” The words “they cry out” are supplied in the translation because they are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line). They cry out. This reference to the psalmist’s enemies crying out for help to the Lord suggests that the psalmist refers here to enemies within the covenant community, rather than foreigners. However, the militaristic context suggests foreign enemies are in view. Ancient Near Eastern literature indicates that defeated enemies would sometimes cry out for mercy to the god(s) of their conqueror. See R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” (Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983), 271.
118 Heb “I pulverize them like dust upon the face of the wind.” The phrase “upon the face of” here means “before.” 2 Sam 22:43 reads, “like dust of the earth.”
119 Ps 18:42 reads, “I empty them out” (Hiphil of ריק), while 2 Sam 22:43 reads, “I crush them, I stomp on them” (juxtaposing the synonyms דקק and רקע). It is likely that the latter is a conflation of variants. One, but not both, of the verbs in 2 Sam 22:43 is probably original; “empty out” does not form as good a parallel with “grind, pulverize” in the parallel line.
120 Or “mud.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I pursued my enemies and overtook them,

and did not turn back till they were consumed.

I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;

they fell under my feet.

For you equipped me with strength for the battle;

you made those who rise against me sink under me.

You made my enemies turn their backs to me,

and those who hated me I destroyed.

They cried for help, but there was none to save;

they cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them.

I beat them fine as dust before the wind;

I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I pursued my enemies and overtook them;

I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

I crushed them so that they could not rise;

they fell beneath my feet.

You armed me with strength for battle;

you humbled my adversaries before me.

You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,

and I destroyed my foes.

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—

to the Lord, but he did not answer.

I beat them as fine as windblown dust;

I trampled them like mud in the streets.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I pursue my enemies and overtake them;

I do not turn back until they are wiped out.

I crush them, and they cannot get up;

they fall beneath my feet.

You have clothed me with strength for battle;

you subdue my adversaries beneath me.

You have made my enemies retreat before me;

I annihilate those who hate me.

They cry for help, but there is no one to save them—

they cry to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

I pulverize them like dust before the wind;

I trample them like mud in the streets.

NLTNew Living Translation

I chased my enemies and caught them;

I did not stop until they were conquered.

I struck them down so they could not get up;

they fell beneath my feet.

You have armed me with strength for the battle;

you have subdued my enemies under my feet.

You placed my foot on their necks.

I have destroyed all who hated me.

They called for help, but no one came to their rescue.

They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.

I ground them as fine as dust in the wind.

I swept them into the gutter like dirt.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I chased my enemies and overtook them;

I did not turn back until they were finished off.

I struck them and they were not able to stand up;

they fell under my feet.

And you girded me with strength for the battle;

those rising against me you made to kneel under me.

And you made my enemies turn their backs,

then I destroyed those who hated me.

They cried out but there was no rescuer,

even to Yahweh, but he did not answer them.

And I ground them like dust in the wind,

I emptied them out like mud of the streets.

KJV 1900King James Version

I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them:

Neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

I have wounded them that they were not able to rise:

They are fallen under my feet.

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle:

Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies;

That I might destroy them that hate me.

They cried, but there was none to save them:

Even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.

Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind:

I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

Public Domain