Understanding the Bible: mistranslations

Psalm 18; 2 Samuel 22

As explained in the previous blog on Psalm 29, Jewish translations play fast and loose with the original Hebrew verb tenses and this is true of 2 Samuel 22 and its later, somewhat differently worded and more polished version as Psalm 18. (See Soncino, The Psalms (1945) p. 43 commentary.)

Here, future tense verbs are systematically ‘eliminated’ and translated into either present or past tense, with only the two future verbs of verse 50 (near the end) are translated as future tense.

This is true of 2 Samuel 22 which is in the Art Scroll The Chumash (pp, 1205-07) as the haftorah for Parshat Ha’azinu, and Psalm 18 in Soncino’s The Psalms (1945) and the online Machon-mamre (which matches Soncino).

There are 2 issues:

1. the regular transformation of clearly future verbs into present or past tense in the translations.

2. mistakenly translating future verbs with a vav prefix as if they are past tense using the Divine vav hahefuch.

Translations analysis - colour coding

The following colour coding is used to track verb tenses.

*Past tense	* Present tense	* simple Future tense	* vav prefix future tense
* Imperative
* Hebrew does not have Present tense words for *“IS” and “ARE”. They are marked by yellow and Bold Italics* in the translations.

As for point #1, is there any doubt the nine (9) Hebrew verbs in the opening verses of Psalm 18 (below) -- in red and grey -- are grammatically simply and clearly future tense?

Yet the standard Jewish translations put them into present tense (English yellow highlighting) for Verse 2 -4 and then convert the future verbs of verses 7 into past tense (English blue highlighting).


ב וַיֹּאמַר-- אֶרְחָמְךָ יְהוָה חִזְקִי.	2 And he said: I love thee, O LORD, my strength.
ג יְהוָה, סַלְעִי וּמְצוּדָתִי-- וּמְפַלְטִי: אֵלִי צוּרִי, אֶחֱסֶה-בּוֹ; מָגִנִּי וְקֶרֶן-יִשְׁעִי, מִשְׂגַּבִּי.	3 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; {N} my God, my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower.
ד מְהֻלָּל, אֶקְרָא יְהוָה; וּמִן-אֹיְבַי, אִוָּשֵׁעַ.	4 Praised, I cry, is the LORD, and I am saved from mine enemies.
ה אֲפָפוּנִי חֶבְלֵי-מָוֶת; וְנַחֲלֵי בְלִיַּעַל יְבַעֲתוּנִי.	5 The cords of Death compassed me, and the floods of Belial assailed me.
ו חֶבְלֵי שְׁאוֹל סְבָבוּנִי; קִדְּמוּנִי, מוֹקְשֵׁי מָוֶת.	6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me.
ז בַּצַּר-לִי, אֶקְרָא יְהוָה-- וְאֶל-אֱלֹהַי אֲשַׁוֵּעַ: יִשְׁמַע מֵהֵיכָלוֹ קוֹלִי; וְשַׁוְעָתִי, לְפָנָיו תָּבוֹא בְאָזְנָיו.	7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God; {N} out of His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came before Him unto His ears.

These obvious, mistranslations of simple future verbs run throughout Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel 22.

As for issue #2, the Art Scroll, Soncino and online Machon-mamre treat the numerous future verbs with a vav prefix as past tense in meaning, i.e., as instances of the Divine vav hahefuch.

As explained in earlier blogs, vav hahefuch is extremely rare in the Book of Psalms as it is generally inappropriate for human writers expressing their own feelings to appropriate or use the Divine vav hahefuch verb form.

It shows up all together only 5 times in Davis’s Psalms 34, 30 and 19.

Yet here we are expected to believe that it is used a remarkable twenty-five times.

As well, a comparison of Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel 22 shows beyond any doubt that King David never intended such a vav hahefuch interpretation because in the eight (8) verbs highlighted in GREY in the 2 Samuel 22 version below, the future verb tense is kept in both versions though the prefix vav is dropped in one while used in the other!

Finally, when these vav-prefix future verbs begin to appear in verse 8 onward, they are intermingled with normal future verbs continually. In particular, 8 verses have both simple future and vav-prefix future verbs intermixed: verses 8, 14, 19, 20, 36, 40, 43 and 46; and it makes no sense to read the prefixes here as suddenly ‘past’.

Put simply, these common Jewish translations radically distort the tense choices of King David and mislead any reader who relies on the accuracy of the English text.

2 Samuel Chapter 22 שְׁמוּאֵל ב

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt08b22.htm

א וַיְדַבֵּר דָּוִד לַיהוָה, אֶת-דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת, {ס} בְּיוֹם הִצִּיל יְהוָה אֹתוֹ {ר} מִכַּף כָּל-אֹיְבָיו, וּמִכַּף שָׁאוּל. {ס}

1 And David spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul;

ב וַיֹּאמַר: יְהוָה סַלְעִי וּמְצֻדָתִי, {ר} וּמְפַלְטִי-לִי.

2 and he said: The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

ג אֱלֹהֵי צוּרִי, אֶחֱסֶה-בּוֹ; {ס} מָגִנִּי וְקֶרֶן יִשְׁעִי, {ר} מִשְׂגַּבִּי וּמְנוּסִי, {ס} מֹשִׁעִי, מֵחָמָס תֹּשִׁעֵנִי. {ר}

3 The God who is my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; my saviour, Thou savest me from violence.

ד מְהֻלָּל, אֶקְרָא יְהוָה; {ס} וּמֵאֹיְבַי, אִוָּשֵׁעַ. {ר}

4 Praised, I cry, is the LORD, and I am saved from mine enemies.

ה כִּי אֲפָפֻנִי, מִשְׁבְּרֵי-מָוֶת; {ס} נַחֲלֵי בְלִיַּעַל, יְבַעֲתֻנִי. {ר}

5 For the waves of Death compassed me. The floods of Belial assailed me.

ו חֶבְלֵי שְׁאוֹל, סַבֻּנִי; {ס} קִדְּמֻנִי, מֹקְשֵׁי-מָוֶת. {ר}

6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me.

Psalm 18 ּ יִשְׁמַע

ז בַּצַּר-לִי אֶקְרָא יְהוָה, וְאֶל-אֱלֹהַי אֶקְרָא; {ס} וַיִּשְׁמַע מֵהֵיכָלוֹ קוֹלִי, וְשַׁוְעָתִי בְּאָזְנָיו. {ר}

7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, yea, I called unto my God; and out of His temple He heard my voice, and my cry did enter into His ears.

ח ותגעש (וַיִּתְגָּעַשׁ) וַתִּרְעַשׁ הָאָרֶץ, {ס} מוֹסְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם יִרְגָּזוּ; וַיִּתְגָּעֲשׁוּ, כִּי-חָרָה לוֹ. {ר}

8 Then the earth did shake and quake, the foundations of heaven did tremble; they were shaken, because He was wroth.

ט עָלָה עָשָׁן בְּאַפּוֹ, וְאֵשׁ מִפִּיו תֹּאכֵל; {ס} גֶּחָלִים, בָּעֲרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ. {ר}

9 Smoke arose up in His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth did devour; coals flamed forth from Him.

י וַיֵּט שָׁמַיִם, וַיֵּרַד; {ס} וַעֲרָפֶל, תַּחַת רַגְלָיו. {ר}

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.

יא וַיִּרְכַּב עַל-כְּרוּב, וַיָּעֹף; {ס} וַיֵּרָא, עַל-כַּנְפֵי-רוּחַ. {ר}

11 And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, He was seen upon the wings of the wind.

Psalm 18 יָשֶׁת

יב וַיָּשֶׁת חֹשֶׁךְ סְבִיבֹתָיו, סֻכּוֹת; {ס} חַשְׁרַת-מַיִם, עָבֵי שְׁחָקִים. {ר}

12 And He made darkness pavilions round about Him, gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

יג מִנֹּגַהּ, נֶגְדּוֹ; בָּעֲרוּ, גַּחֲלֵי-אֵשׁ. {ס}

13 At the brightness before Him coals of fire flamed forth.

Psalm 18 וַיַּרְעֵם

יד יַרְעֵם מִן-שָׁמַיִם, יְהוָה; {ר} וְעֶלְיוֹן, יִתֵּן קוֹלוֹ. {ס}

14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High gave forth His voice.

טו וַיִּשְׁלַח חִצִּים, וַיְפִיצֵם; בָּרָק, ויהמם (וַיָּהֹם). {ר}

15 And He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

Psalm 18 וַיִּגָּלוּ

טז וַיֵּרָאוּ אֲפִקֵי יָם, יִגָּלוּ מֹסְדוֹת תֵּבֵל; {ס} בְּגַעֲרַת יְהוָה, מִנִּשְׁמַת רוּחַ אַפּוֹ. {ר}

16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

יז יִשְׁלַח מִמָּרוֹם, יִקָּחֵנִי; {ס} יַמְשֵׁנִי, מִמַּיִם רַבִּים. {ר}

17 He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters;

יח יַצִּילֵנִי, מֵאֹיְבִי עָז; {ס} מִשֹּׂנְאַי, כִּי אָמְצוּ מִמֶּנִּי. {ר}

18 He delivered me from mine enemy most strong, from them that hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

יט יְקַדְּמֻנִי, בְּיוֹם אֵידִי; וַיְהִי יְהוָה מִשְׁעָן, לִי. {ס}

19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was a stay unto me.

כ וַיֹּצֵא לַמֶּרְחָב, אֹתִי; {ר} יְחַלְּצֵנִי, כִּי-חָפֵץ בִּי. {ס}

20 He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.

כא יִגְמְלֵנִי יְהוָה, כְּצִדְקָתִי; {ר} כְּבֹר יָדַי, יָשִׁיב לִי. {ס}

21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.

Art Scroll changes here to משפטיו,

כב כִּי שָׁמַרְתִּי, דַּרְכֵי יְהוָה; {ר} וְלֹא רָשַׁעְתִּי, מֵאֱלֹהָי. {ס}

22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

כג כִּי כָל-מִשְׁפָּטָו , לְנֶגְדִּי; וְחֻקֹּתָיו, לֹא-אָסוּר מִמֶּנָּה. {ר}

23 For all His ordinances were before me; and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.

כד וָאֶהְיֶה תָמִים, לוֹ; {ס} וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָה, מֵעֲו‍ֹנִי. {ר}

24 And I was single-hearted toward Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

כה וַיָּשֶׁב יְהוָה לִי, כְּצִדְקָתִי; {ס} כְּבֹרִי, לְנֶגֶד עֵינָיו. {ר}

25 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His eyes.

כו עִם-חָסִיד, תִּתְחַסָּד; {ס} עִם-גִּבּוֹר תָּמִים, תִּתַּמָּם. {ר}

26 With the merciful Thou dost show Thyself merciful, with the upright man Thou dost show Thyself upright,

כז עִם-נָבָר, תִּתָּבָר; {ס} וְעִם-עִקֵּשׁ, תִּתַּפָּל. {ר}

27 With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; and with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself subtle.

כח וְאֶת-עַם עָנִי, תּוֹשִׁיעַ; {ס} וְעֵינֶיךָ עַל-רָמִים, תַּשְׁפִּיל. {ר}

28 And the afflicted people Thou dost save; but Thine eyes are upon the haughty, that Thou mayest humble them.

כט כִּי-אַתָּה נֵירִי, יְהוָה; {ס} וַיהוָה, יַגִּיהַּ חָשְׁכִּי. {ר}

29 For Thou art my lamp, O LORD; and the LORD doth lighten my darkness.

ל כִּי בְכָה, אָרוּץ גְּדוּד; {ס} בֵּאלֹהַי, אֲדַלֶּג-שׁוּר. {ר}

30 For by Thee I run upon a troop; by my God do I scale a wall.

לא הָאֵל, תָּמִים דַּרְכּוֹ; אִמְרַת יְהוָה, צְרוּפָה-- {ס} מָגֵן הוּא, לְכֹל הַחֹסִים בּוֹ. {ר}

31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him.

לב כִּי מִי-אֵל, מִבַּלְעֲדֵי יְהוָה; {ס} וּמִי צוּר, מִבַּלְעֲדֵי אֱלֹהֵינוּ. {ר}

32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a Rock, save our God?

לג הָאֵל מָעוּזִּי, חָיִל; {ס} וַיַּתֵּר תָּמִים, דרכו (דַּרְכִּי). {ר}

33 The God who is my strong fortress, and who letteth my way go forth straight;

לד מְשַׁוֶּה רגליו (רַגְלַי), כָּאַיָּלוֹת; {ס} וְעַל בָּמֹתַי, יַעֲמִדֵנִי. {ר}

34 Who maketh my feet like hinds', and setteth me upon my high places;

לה מְלַמֵּד יָדַי, לַמִּלְחָמָה; {ס} וְנִחַת קֶשֶׁת-נְחוּשָׁה, זְרֹעֹתָי. {ר}

35 Who traineth my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

לו וַתִּתֶּן-לִי, מָגֵן יִשְׁעֶךָ; וַעֲנֹתְךָ, תַּרְבֵּנִי. {ס}

36 Thou hast also given me Thy shield of salvation; and Thy condescension hath made me great.

לז תַּרְחִיב צַעֲדִי, תַּחְתֵּנִי; וְלֹא מָעֲדוּ, קַרְסֻלָּי. {ר}

37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped.

לח אֶרְדְּפָה אֹיְבַי, וָאַשְׁמִידֵם; {ס} וְלֹא אָשׁוּב, עַד-כַּלּוֹתָם. {ר}

38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; neither did I turn back till they were consumed.

Psalm 18 אֶמְחָצֵם, וְלֹא-יֻכְלוּ קוּם; יִפְּלוּ

לט וָאֲכַלֵּם וָאֶמְחָצֵם, וְלֹא יְקוּמוּן; {ס} וַיִּפְּלוּ, תַּחַת רַגְלָי. {ר}

39 And I have consumed them, and smitten them through, that they cannot arise; yea, they are fallen under my feet.

מ וַתַּזְרֵנִי חַיִל, לַמִּלְחָמָה; {ס} תַּכְרִיעַ קָמַי, תַּחְתֵּנִי. {ר}

40 For Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

Psalm 18 ּ אַצְמִיתֵם

מא וְאֹיְבַי, תַּתָּה לִּי עֹרֶף; מְשַׂנְאַי, וָאַצְמִיתֵם. {ס.

41 Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me; yea, them that hate me, that I might cut them off.

מב יִשְׁעוּ, וְאֵין מֹשִׁיעַ; אֶל-יְהוָה, וְלֹא עָנָם. {ר}

42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but He answered them not.

מג וְאֶשְׁחָקֵם, כַּעֲפַר-אָרֶץ; {ס} כְּטִיט-חוּצוֹת אֲדִקֵּם, אֶרְקָעֵם. {ר}

43 Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the streets, and did tread them down.

מד וַתְּפַלְּטֵנִי, מֵרִיבֵי עַמִּי; תִּשְׁמְרֵנִי לְרֹאשׁ גּוֹיִם, {ס} עַם לֹא-יָדַעְתִּי יַעַבְדֻנִי. {ר}

44 Thou also hast delivered me from the contentions of my people; Thou hast kept me to be the head of the nations; a people whom I have not known serve me.

מה בְּנֵי נֵכָר, יִתְכַּחֲשׁוּ-לִי; לִשְׁמוֹעַ אֹזֶן, יִשָּׁמְעוּ לִי. {ס}

45 The sons of the stranger dwindle away before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

מו בְּנֵי נֵכָר, יִבֹּלוּ; וְיַחְגְּרוּ, מִמִּסְגְּרוֹתָם. {ר}

46 The sons of the stranger fade away, and come halting out of their close places.

מז חַי-יְהוָה, וּבָרוּךְ צוּרִי; {ס} וְיָרֻם, אֱלֹהֵי צוּר יִשְׁעִי. {ר}

47 The LORD liveth, and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the God, my Rock of salvation;

מח הָאֵל, הַנֹּתֵן נְקָמֹת לִי; {ס} וּמֹרִיד עַמִּים, תַּחְתֵּנִי. {ר}

48 Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, and bringeth down peoples under me,

מט וּמוֹצִיאִי, מֵאֹיְבָי; וּמִקָּמַי, תְּרוֹמְמֵנִי, {ס} מֵאִישׁ חֲמָסִים, תַּצִּילֵנִי. {ר}

49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies; yea, Thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.

נ עַל-כֵּן אוֹדְךָ יְהוָה, בַּגּוֹיִם; {ס} וּלְשִׁמְךָ, אֲזַמֵּר. {ר}

50 Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O LORD, among the nations, and will sing praises unto Thy name.

נא מגדיל (מִגְדּוֹל), יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ; וְעֹשֶׂה-חֶסֶד לִמְשִׁיחוֹ {ס} לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ, עַד-עוֹלָם. {ר} {ש}

51 A tower of salvation is He to His king; and showeth mercy to His anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore. {P}

Significance of the only vav hahefuch - וַיֹּאמַר

The first word of verse 2, וַיֹּאמַר, is the one and only valid instance of vav hahefuch in Psalm 18.

It cannot be understood any other way as it follows verse 1 whose 2 verbs are in normal past tense, and frame the entire psalm as a past event.

וַיֹּאמַר first appears in the earlier 2 Samuel 22:2 version and may simply be a carryover or copied.

After all, 2 Samuel 22 verse 1 begins with vav hahefuch, וַיְדַבֵּר דָּוִד לַיהוָה, following the traditional use of vav hahefuch in Hebrew chronicles to reflect Divine influence in the acts of man.

Also, the chronicle of King Solomon’s Temple dedication in 1 Kings 8 (repeated as 2 Chronicles 6) similarly has numerous vav hahefuch usage even for the prayer.

2 Samuel	Psalm 18
א וַיְדַבֵּר דָּוִד לַיהוָה, אֶת-דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת, {ס} בְּיוֹם הִצִּיל יְהוָה אֹתוֹ {ר} מִכַּף כָּל-אֹיְבָיו, וּמִכַּף שָׁאוּל. {ס}	א לַמְנַצֵּחַ, לְעֶבֶד יְהוָה--לְדָוִד: אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר, לַיהוָה, אֶת-דִּבְרֵי, הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת-- בְּיוֹם הִצִּיל-יְהוָה אוֹתוֹ מִכַּף כָּל-אֹיְבָיו, וּמִיַּד שָׁאוּל.
ב וַיֹּאמַר: יְהוָה סַלְעִי וּמְצֻדָתִי, {ר} וּמְפַלְטִי-לִי.	ב וַיֹּאמַר-- אֶרְחָמְךָ יְהוָה חִזְקִי.

In conclusion, the numerous future tense verbs found in both versions of the same poem (without and with vav prefixes) are not accidental or errors and are clearly intended to be read as future tense.

ANYONE FLUENT IN HEBREW – EVEN A 10 YEAR OLD CHILD – WOULD KNOW THIS!

Why did King David use tense shifting (as in Psalm 29)?

Devotional and Theological aspect

Throughout this poem, the proper, 4-letter (Tetragrammaton) name for God --יְהוָה -- is almost exclusively used. The name is a conflation of the Hebrew verb “to be” in its past, present and future forms – and should, therefore, be translated as The Eternal.

By repeatedly shifting from the now or the past into mostly future tense verbs, King David seems to me to be emphasizing and reaffirming his faith in God eternal: past, present and especially future.

Consequently, I suggest the proper understanding and translation of these frequent future tense verbs is “... will always ...”.

Artistry and Poetics

Again, without going into a full analysis, Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22 was designed by King David to have the same playful and melodious rises and dips: using different verb tenses, as in Psalm 29 (which is elaborated in detail in a previous blog).

Psalms Chapter 18 תְּהִלִּים

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2618.htm

א לַמְנַצֵּחַ, לְעֶבֶד יְהוָה--לְדָוִד: אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר, לַיהוָה, אֶת-דִּבְרֵי, הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת-- בְּיוֹם הִצִּיל-יְהוָה אוֹתוֹ מִכַּף כָּל-אֹיְבָיו, וּמִיַּד שָׁאוּל.	1 For the Leader. [A Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD, {N} who spoke unto the LORD the words of this song {N} in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul;
ב וַיֹּאמַר-- אֶרְחָמְךָ יְהוָה חִזְקִי.	2 And he said: I love thee, O LORD, my strength.
ג יְהוָה, סַלְעִי וּמְצוּדָתִי-- וּמְפַלְטִי: אֵלִי צוּרִי, אֶחֱסֶה-בּוֹ; מָגִנִּי וְקֶרֶן-יִשְׁעִי, מִשְׂגַּבִּי.	3 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; {N} my God, my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower.
ד מְהֻלָּל, אֶקְרָא יְהוָה; וּמִן-אֹיְבַי, אִוָּשֵׁעַ.	4 Praised, I cry, is the LORD, and I am saved from mine enemies.
ה אֲפָפוּנִי חֶבְלֵי-מָוֶת; וְנַחֲלֵי בְלִיַּעַל יְבַעֲתוּנִי.	5 The cords of Death compassed me, and the floods of Belial assailed me.
ו חֶבְלֵי שְׁאוֹל סְבָבוּנִי; קִדְּמוּנִי, מוֹקְשֵׁי מָוֶת.	6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me.
ז בַּצַּר-לִי, אֶקְרָא יְהוָה-- וְאֶל-אֱלֹהַי אֲשַׁוֵּעַ: יִשְׁמַע מֵהֵיכָלוֹ קוֹלִי; וְשַׁוְעָתִי, לְפָנָיו תָּבוֹא בְאָזְנָיו.	7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God; {N} out of His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came before Him unto His ears.
ח וַתִּגְעַשׁ וַתִּרְעַשׁ, הָאָרֶץ-- וּמוֹסְדֵי הָרִים יִרְגָּזוּ; וַיִּתְגָּעֲשׁוּ, כִּי-חָרָה לוֹ.	8 Then the earth did shake and quake, the foundations also of the mountains did tremble; {N} they were shaken, because He was wroth.
ט עָלָה עָשָׁן, בְּאַפּוֹ-- וְאֵשׁ-מִפִּיו תֹּאכֵל; גֶּחָלִים, בָּעֲרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ.	9 Smoke arose up in His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth did devour; {N} coals flamed forth from Him.
י וַיֵּט שָׁמַיִם, וַיֵּרַד; וַעֲרָפֶל, תַּחַת רַגְלָיו.	10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.
יא וַיִּרְכַּב עַל-כְּרוּב, וַיָּעֹף; וַיֵּדֶא, עַל-כַּנְפֵי-רוּחַ.	11 And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, He did swoop down upon the wings of the wind.
יב יָשֶׁת חֹשֶׁךְ, סִתְרוֹ-- סְבִיבוֹתָיו סֻכָּתוֹ; חֶשְׁכַת-מַיִם, עָבֵי שְׁחָקִים.	12 He made darkness His hiding-place, His pavilion round about Him; {N} darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
יג מִנֹּגַהּ, נֶגְדּוֹ: עָבָיו עָבְרוּ--בָּרָד, וְגַחֲלֵי-אֵשׁ.	13 At the brightness before Him, there passed through His thick clouds hailstones and coals of fire.
יד וַיַּרְעֵם בַּשָּׁמַיִם, יְהוָה--וְעֶלְיוֹן, יִתֵּן קֹלוֹ; בָּרָד, וְגַחֲלֵי-אֵשׁ.	14 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High gave forth His voice; hailstones and coals of fire.
טו וַיִּשְׁלַח חִצָּיו, וַיְפִיצֵם; וּבְרָקִים רָב, וַיְהֻמֵּם.	15 And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them; and He shot forth lightnings, and discomfited them.
טז וַיֵּרָאוּ, אֲפִיקֵי מַיִם, וַיִּגָּלוּ, מוֹסְדוֹת תֵּבֵל: מִגַּעֲרָתְךָ יְהוָה-- מִנִּשְׁמַת, רוּחַ אַפֶּךָ.	16 And the channels of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare, {N} at Thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Thy nostrils.
יז יִשְׁלַח מִמָּרוֹם, יִקָּחֵנִי; יַמְשֵׁנִי, מִמַּיִם רַבִּים.	17 He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
יח יַצִּילֵנִי, מֵאֹיְבִי עָז; וּמִשֹּׂנְאַי, כִּי-אָמְצוּ מִמֶּנִּי.	18 He delivered me from mine enemy most strong, and from them that hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
יט יְקַדְּמוּנִי בְיוֹם-אֵידִי; וַיְהִי-יְהוָה לְמִשְׁעָן לִי.	19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was a stay unto me.
כ וַיּוֹצִיאֵנִי לַמֶּרְחָב; יְחַלְּצֵנִי, כִּי חָפֵץ בִּי.	20 He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.
כא יִגְמְלֵנִי יְהוָה כְּצִדְקִי; כְּבֹר יָדַי, יָשִׁיב לִי.	21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.
כב כִּי-שָׁמַרְתִּי, דַּרְכֵי יְהוָה; וְלֹא-רָשַׁעְתִּי, מֵאֱלֹהָי.	22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
כג כִּי כָל-מִשְׁפָּטָיו לְנֶגְדִּי; וְחֻקֹּתָיו, לֹא-אָסִיר מֶנִּי.	23 For all His ordinances *were* before me, and I put not away His statutes from me.
כד וָאֱהִי תָמִים עִמּוֹ; וָאֶשְׁתַּמֵּר, מֵעֲו‍ֹנִי.	24 And I was single-hearted with Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
כה וַיָּשֶׁב-יְהוָה לִי כְצִדְקִי; כְּבֹר יָדַי, לְנֶגֶד עֵינָיו.	25 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.
כו עִם-חָסִיד תִּתְחַסָּד; עִם-גְּבַר תָּמִים, תִּתַּמָּם.	26 With the merciful Thou dost show Thyself merciful, with the upright man Thou dost show Thyself upright;
כז עִם-נָבָר תִּתְבָּרָר; וְעִם-עִקֵּשׁ, תִּתְפַּתָּל.	27 With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; and with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself subtle.
כח כִּי-אַתָּה, עַם-עָנִי תוֹשִׁיעַ; וְעֵינַיִם רָמוֹת תַּשְׁפִּיל.	28 For Thou dost save the afflicted people; but the haughty eyes Thou dost humble.
כט כִּי-אַתָּה, תָּאִיר נֵרִי; יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי, יַגִּיהַּ חָשְׁכִּי.	29 For Thou dost light my lamp; the LORD my God doth lighten my darkness.
ל כִּי-בְךָ, אָרֻץ גְּדוּד; וּבֵאלֹהַי, אֲדַלֶּג-שׁוּר.	30 For by Thee I run upon a troop; and by my God do I scale a wall.
לא הָאֵל, תָּמִים דַּרְכּוֹ: אִמְרַת-יְהוָה צְרוּפָה; מָגֵן הוּא, לְכֹל הַחֹסִים בּוֹ.	31 As for God, His way is perfect; {N} the word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him.
לב כִּי מִי אֱלוֹהַּ, מִבַּלְעֲדֵי יְהוָה; וּמִי צוּר, זוּלָתִי אֱלֹהֵינוּ.	32 For who is God, save the LORD? And who is a Rock, except our God?
לג הָאֵל, הַמְאַזְּרֵנִי חָיִל; וַיִּתֵּן תָּמִים דַּרְכִּי.	33 The God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way straight;
לד מְשַׁוֶּה רַגְלַי, כָּאַיָּלוֹת; וְעַל בָּמֹתַי, יַעֲמִידֵנִי.	34 Who maketh my feet like hinds', and setteth me upon my high places;
לה מְלַמֵּד יָדַי, לַמִּלְחָמָה; וְנִחֲתָה קֶשֶׁת-נְחוּשָׁה, זְרוֹעֹתָי.	35 Who traineth my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
לו וַתִּתֶּן-לִי, מָגֵן יִשְׁעֶךָ: וִימִינְךָ תִסְעָדֵנִי; וְעַנְוַתְךָ תַרְבֵּנִי.	36 Thou hast also given me Thy shield of salvation, and Thy right hand hath holden me up; and Thy condescension hath made me great.
לז תַּרְחִיב צַעֲדִי תַחְתָּי; וְלֹא מָעֲדוּ, קַרְסֻלָּי.	37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped.
לח אֶרְדּוֹף אוֹיְבַי, וְאַשִּׂיגֵם; וְלֹא-אָשׁוּב, עַד-כַּלּוֹתָם.	38 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them; neither did I turn back till they *were* consumed.
לט אֶמְחָצֵם, וְלֹא-יֻכְלוּ קוּם; יִפְּלוּ, תַּחַת רַגְלָי.	39 I have smitten them through, so that they are not able to rise; they are fallen under my feet.
מ וַתְּאַזְּרֵנִי חַיִל, לַמִּלְחָמָה; תַּכְרִיעַ קָמַי תַּחְתָּי.	40 For Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
מא וְאֹיְבַי, נָתַתָּה לִּי עֹרֶף; וּמְשַׂנְאַי, אַצְמִיתֵם.	41 Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, and I did cut off them that hate me.
מב יְשַׁוְּעוּ וְאֵין-מוֹשִׁיעַ; עַל-יְהוָה, וְלֹא עָנָם.	42 They cried, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but He answered them not.
מג וְאֶשְׁחָקֵם, כְּעָפָר עַל-פְּנֵי-רוּחַ; כְּטִיט חוּצוֹת אֲרִיקֵם.	43 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.
מד תְּפַלְּטֵנִי, מֵרִיבֵי-עָם: תְּשִׂימֵנִי, לְרֹאשׁ גּוֹיִם; עַם לֹא-יָדַעְתִּי יַעַבְדוּנִי.	44 Thou hast delivered me from the contentions of the people; Thou hast made me the head of the nations; a people whom I have not known serve me.
מה לְשֵׁמַע אֹזֶן, יִשָּׁמְעוּ לִי; בְּנֵי-נֵכָר, יְכַחֲשׁוּ-לִי.	45 As soon as they hear of me, they obey me; the sons of the stranger dwindle away before me.
מו בְּנֵי-נֵכָר יִבֹּלוּ; וְיַחְרְגוּ, מִמִּסְגְּרוֹתֵיהֶם.	46 The sons of the stranger fade away, and come trembling out of their close places.
מז חַי-יְהוָה, וּבָרוּךְ צוּרִי; וְיָרוּם, אֱלוֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי.	47 The LORD liveth, and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation;
מח הָאֵל--הַנּוֹתֵן נְקָמוֹת לִי; וַיַּדְבֵּר עַמִּים תַּחְתָּי.	48 Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, and subdueth peoples under me.
מט מְפַלְּטִי, מֵאֹיְבָי: אַף מִן-קָמַי, תְּרוֹמְמֵנִי; מֵאִישׁ חָמָס, תַּצִּילֵנִי.	49 He delivereth me from mine enemies; yea, Thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.
נ עַל-כֵּן, אוֹדְךָ בַגּוֹיִם יְהוָה; וּלְשִׁמְךָ אֲזַמֵּרָה.	50 Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O LORD, among the nations, and will sing praises unto Thy name.
נא מַגְדִּל, יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ: וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד, לִמְשִׁיחוֹ--לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ; עַד-עוֹלָם.	51 Great salvation giveth He to His king; {N} and showeth mercy to His anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore.

Christian translations

An examination of the translations of the English King James Bible (1611 C.E.) and the much earlier Latin Vulgate, translated by the early Christian leader, Jerome, directly from the Hebrew (405 C.E.) is given below, and are very revealing.

King James English Version (KJV) http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/book.php?book=Psalms&chapter=18&verse=

(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,) I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

² The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

³ I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

⁴ The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

⁵ The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

⁶ In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

⁷ Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

⁸ There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

⁹ He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

¹⁰ And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

¹¹ He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

¹² At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

¹³ The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

¹⁴ Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

¹⁵ Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

¹⁶ He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

¹⁷ He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

¹⁸ They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

¹⁹ He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

²⁰ The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

²¹ For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

²² For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

²³ I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

²⁴ Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

²⁵ With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

²⁶ With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

²⁷ For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

²⁸ For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

²⁹ For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

³¹ For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

³² It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

³³ He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

³⁴ He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

³⁵ Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

³⁶ Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

³⁷ I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

³⁸ I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

³⁹ For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

⁴⁰ Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

⁴¹ They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

⁴² Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

⁴³ Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

⁴⁴ As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

⁴⁵ The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

⁴⁶ The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

⁴⁷ It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

⁴⁸ He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

⁴⁹ Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

⁵⁰ Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

As shown by the highlighting, the early 17^th century English standard KJV translation is somewhat more faithful to the Hebrew. It correctly translates 22 of the future tenses compared with just two future tenses in the Jewish translations (in verse 50).

The KJV uses future verbs in verses 1-3, 25-28, 40, 43-46, and 49.

However, it still deviates from the original Hebrew’s future tense choices some 70 times as marked by my underlining.

Latin Vulgate Psalm 17 (Hebrew Psalms 9-10 are treated as one in the Vulgate (two versions) count.) [from http://vulgate.org/ot/psalms_17.htm]

The Vulgate versions below, like the (later) English KJV, use future tense far more often than the Jewish translations. Just likes with the KJV, both Vulgate texts use future or subjunctive/future verbs some 25 times.

Namely, future tense in verses 2-4, 26-28; and future or present subjunctive in verses 30, 38-39 and 43-44.

In addition, 12 more verses use future tense in one version while the other has past or present tense as the reading/understanding.

The upper translation has another 19 future tense verbs, and the lower uses 10 future verbs where the upper text has past or present tense.

And, of course verse 50 is universally accepted as future.

Psalmi - Chapter 17

Psalms

¹	victori servo Domini David quae locutus est Domino verba cantici huius in die qua liberavit eum Dominus de manu omnium inimicorum suorum et de manu Saul et ait in finem puero Domini David quae locutus est Domino verba cantici huius in die qua eripuit eum Dominus de manu omnium inimicorum eius et de manu Saul et dixit Unto the end, for David, the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this canticle, in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he said:
²	diligam te Domine fortitudo mea diligam te Domine fortitudo mea I will love thee, O Lord, my strength:
³	Domine petra mea et robur meum et salvator meus Deus meus fortis meus sperabo in eo scutum meum et cornu salutis meae susceptor meus Dominus firmamentum meum et refugium meum et liberator meus Deus meus adiutor meus et sperabo in eum protector meus et cornu salutis meae et susceptor meus The Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is my helper, and in him will I put my trust. My protector, and the horn of my salvation, and my support.
⁴	laudatum invocabo Dominum et ab inimicis meis salvus ero laudans invocabo Dominum et ab inimicis meis salvus ero Praising, I will call upon the Lord: and I shall be saved from my enemies.
⁵	circumdederunt me funes mortis et torrentes diabuli terruerunt me circumdederunt me dolores mortis et torrentes iniquitatis conturbaverunt me The sorrows of death surrounded me: and the torrents of iniquity troubled me.
⁶	funes inferi circumdederunt me praevenerunt me laquei mortis dolores inferni circumdederunt me praeoccupaverunt me laquei mortis The sorrows of hell encompassed me: and the snares of death prevented me.
⁷	in tribulatione mea invocabo Dominum et ad Deum meum clamabo exaudiet de templo suo vocem meam et clamor meus ante faciem eius veniet in aures eius cum tribularer invocavi Dominum et ad Deum meum clamavi exaudivit de templo sancto; suo vocem meam et clamor meus in conspectu eius introibit in aures eius In my affliction I called upon the Lord, and I cried to my God: And he heard my voice from his holy temple: and my cry before him came into his ears.
⁸	commota est et contremuit terra et fundamenta montium concussa sunt et conquassata quoniam iratus est et commota est et contremuit terra et fundamenta montium conturbata sunt et commota sunt quoniam iratus est eis The earth shook and trembled: the foundations of the mountains were troubled and were moved, because he was angry with them.
⁹	ascendit fumus de furore eius et ignis ex ore eius devorans carbones incensi sunt ab eo ascendit fumus in ira eius et ignis a facie eius exarsit carbones succensi sunt ab eo There went up a smoke in his wrath: and a fire flamed from his face: coals were kindled by it.
¹⁰	inclinavit caelos et descendit et caligo sub pedibus eius inclinavit caelos et descendit et caligo sub pedibus eius He bowed the heavens, and came down, and darkness was under his feet.
¹¹	et ascendit super cherub et volavit super pinnas venti et ascendit super cherubin et volavit volavit super pinnas ventorum And he ascended upon the cherubim, and he flew; he flew upon the wings of the winds.
¹²	posuit tenebras latibulum suum in circuitu eius tabernaculum eius tenebrosas aquas in nubibus aetheris et posuit tenebras latibulum suum in circuitu eius tabernaculum eius tenebrosa aqua in nubibus aeris And he made darkness his covert, his pavilion round about him: dark waters in the clouds of the air.
¹³	prae fulgore in conspectu eius nubes transierunt grando et carbones ignis prae fulgore in conspectu eius nubes eius; transierunt grando et carbones ignis At the brightness that was before him the clouds passed, hail and coals of fire.
¹⁴	et intonuit de caelo Dominus et Altissimus dedit vocem suam grandinem et carbones ignis et intonuit de caelo Dominus et Altissimus dedit vocem suam grando et carbones ignis; And the Lord thundered from heaven, and the Highest gave his voice: hail and coals of fire.
¹⁵	et emisit sagittas suas et dissipavit eos fulgora multiplicavit et conturbavit illos et misit sagittas et dissipavit eos et fulgora multiplicavit et conturbavit eos And he sent forth his arrows, and he scattered them: he multiplied lightnings, and troubled them.
¹⁶	et apparuerunt effusiones aquarum et revelata sunt fundamenta orbis ab increpatione tua Domine ab inspiratione spiritus furoris tui et apparuerunt fontes aquarum et revelata sunt fundamenta orbis terrarum ab increpatione tua Domine ab inspiratione spiritus irae tuae Then the fountains of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were discovered: At thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the spirit of thy wrath.
¹⁷	misit de alto et accepit me extraxit me de aquis multis misit de summo et accepit me adsumpsit me de aquis multis He sent from on high, and took me: and received me out of many waters.
¹⁸	liberavit me de inimicis meis potentissimis et de his qui oderant me quoniam robustiores me erant eripiet me de inimicis meis fortissimis et ab his qui oderunt me quoniam confirmati sunt super me He delivered me from my strongest enemies, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
¹⁹	praevenerunt me in die adflictionis meae et factus est Dominus firmamentum meum praevenerunt me in die adflictionis meae et factus est Dominus protector meus They prevented me in the day of my affliction: and the Lord became my protector.
²⁰	et eduxit me in latitudinem liberavit me quia placuit ei et eduxit me in latitudinem salvum me faciet quoniam voluit me And he brought me forth into a large place: he saved me, because he was well pleased with me.
²¹	retribuit mihi Dominus secundum iustitiam meam et secundum munditiam manuum mearum reddidit mihi et; retribuet mihi Dominus secundum iustitiam meam et; secundum puritatem manuum mearum retribuet mihi And the Lord will reward me according to my justice; and will repay me according to the cleanness of my hands:
²²	quia custodivi vias Domini et non egi impie a Deo meo quia custodivi vias Domini nec impie gessi a Deo meo Because I have kept the ways of the Lord; and have not done wickedly against my God.
²³	omnia enim iudicia eius in conspectu meo et praecepta eius non amovi a me quoniam omnia iudicia eius in conspectu meo sunt et iustitias eius non reppuli a me For all his judgments are in my sight: and his justices I have not put away from me.
²⁴	et fui inmaculatus cum eo et custodivi me ab iniquitate mea et ero inmaculatus cum eo et observabo ab iniquitate mea And I shall be spotless with him: and shall keep myself from my iniquity.
²⁵	et restituit Dominus mihi secundum iustitiam meam et secundum munditiam manuum mearum in conspectu oculorum eius et retribuet mihi Dominus secundum iustitiam meam et secundum puritatem manuum mearum in conspectu oculorum eius And the Lord will reward me according to my justice: and according to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes.
²⁶	cum sancto sanctus eris cum viro innocente innocenter ages cum sancto sanctus eris et cum viro innocente innocens eris With the holy thou wilt be holy; and with the innocent man thou wilt be innocent:
²⁷	cum electo electus eris et cum perverso pervertes et cum electo electus eris et cum perverso perverteris And with the elect thou wilt be elect: and with the perverse thou wilt be perverted.
²⁸	quia tu populum pauperem salvabis et oculos excelsos humiliabis quoniam tu populum humilem salvum facies et oculos superborum humiliabis For thou wilt save the humble people; but wilt bring down the eyes of the proud.
²⁹	quia tu inluminabis lucernam meam Domine Deus meus inlustrabis tenebras meas quoniam tu inluminas lucernam meam Domine Deus meus inluminas tenebras meas For thou lightest my lamp, O Lord: O my God, enlighten my darkness.
³⁰	in te enim curram accinctus et in Deo meo transiliam murum quoniam in te eripiar a temptatione et in Deo meo transgrediar murum For by thee I shall be delivered from temptation; and through my God I shall go over a wall.
³¹	Deus inmaculata via eius eloquium Domini igne examinatum scutum est omnium sperantium in se Deus meus inpolluta via eius eloquia Domini igne examinata protector est omnium sperantium in eum As for my God, his way is undefiled: the words of the Lord are fire-tried: he is the protector of all that trust in him.
³²	quis est deus praeter Dominum et quis fortis praeter Deum nostrum quoniam quis deus praeter Dominum et quis deus praeter Deum nostrum For who is God but the Lord? or who is God but our God?
³³	Deus qui accingit me fortitudine et posuit inmaculatam viam meam Deus qui praecingit me virtute et posuit inmaculatam viam meam God, who hath girt me with strength; and made my way blameless.
³⁴	coaequans pedes meos cervis et super excelsa statuens me qui perfecit pedes meos tamquam cervorum et super excelsa statuens me Who hath made my feet like the feet of harts: and who setteth me upon high places.
³⁵	docens manus meas ad proelium et conponens quasi arcum aereum brachia mea qui doces manus meas in proelium et posuisti arcum aereum brachia mea Who teacheth my hands to war: and thou hast made my arms like a brazen bow.
³⁶	dedisti mihi clipeum salutis tuae et dextera tua confortavit me et mansuetudo tua multiplicavit me et dedisti mihi protectionem salutis tuae et dextera tua suscepit me et disciplina tua correxit me in finem et disciplina tua ipsa me docebit And thou hast given me the protection of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath held me up: And thy discipline hath corrected me unto the end: and thy discipline, the same shall teach me.
³⁷	dilatabis gressus meos subtus me et non deficient tali mei dilatasti gressus meos subtus me et non sunt infirmata vestigia mea Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; and my feet are not weakened.
³⁸	persequar inimicos meos et adprehendam et non revertar donec consumam eos persequar inimicos meos et conprehendam illos et non convertar donec deficiant I will pursue after my enemies, and overtake them: and I will not turn again till they are consumed.
³⁹	caedam eos et non poterunt surgere cadent sub pedibus meis confringam illos nec poterunt stare cadent subtus pedes meos I will break them, and they shall not be able to stand: they shall fall under my feet.
⁴⁰	accinxisti me fortitudine ad proelium incurvabis resistentes mihi sub me et praecinxisti me virtute ad bellum subplantasti insurgentes in me subtus me And thou hast girded me with strength unto battle; and hast subdued under me them that rose up against me.
⁴¹	inimicorum meorum dedisti mihi dorsum et odientes me disperdidisti et inimicos meos dedisti mihi dorsum et odientes me disperdisti And thou hast made my enemies turn their back upon me, and hast destroyed them that hated me.
⁴²	clamabunt et non erit qui salvet ad Dominum et non exaudiet eos clamaverunt nec erat qui salvos faceret ad Dominum nec exaudivit eos They cried, but there was none to save them, to the Lord: but he heard them not.
⁴³	delebo eos ut pulverem ante faciem venti ut lutum platearum proiciam eos et comminuam illos ut pulverem ante faciem venti ut lutum platearum delebo eos And I shall beat them as small as the dust before the wind; I shall bring them to nought, like the dirt in the streets.
⁴⁴	salvabis me a contradictionibus populi pones me in caput gentium eripe me de contradictionibus populi constitues me in caput gentium Thou wilt deliver me from the contradictions of the people; thou wilt make me head of the Gentiles.
⁴⁵	populus quem ignoravi serviet mihi auditione auris oboediet mihi populus quem non cognovi servivit mihi in auditu auris oboedivit mihi A people which I knew not, hath served me: at the hearing of the ear they have obeyed me.
⁴⁶	filii alieni mentientur mihi filii alieni defluent et contrahentur in angustiis suis filii alieni mentiti sunt mihi filii alieni inveterati sunt et claudicaverunt a semitis suis The children that are strangers have lied to me, strange children have faded away, and have halted from their paths.
⁴⁷	vivit Dominus et benedictus Deus meus et exaltabitur Deus salutis meae vivit Dominus et benedictus Deus meus et exaltetur Deus salutis meae The Lord liveth, and blessed by my God, and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
⁴⁸	Deus qui das vindictas mihi et congregas populos sub me qui servas me ab inimicis meis Deus qui dat vindictas mihi et subdidit populos sub me liberator meus de gentibus iracundis O God, who avengest me, and subduest the people under me, my deliverer from my enraged enemies.
⁴⁹	et a resistentibus mihi elevas me a viro iniquo libera me et ab insurgentibus in me exaltabis me a viro iniquo eripies me And thou wilt lift me up above them that rise up against me: from the unjust man thou wilt deliver me.
⁵⁰	propterea confitebor tibi in gentibus Domine et nomini tuo cantabo propterea confitebor tibi in nationibus Domine et psalmum dicam nomini tuo Therefore will I give glory to thee, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing a psalm to thy name.
⁵¹	magnificanti salutes regis sui et facienti misericordiam christo suo David et semini eius usque in aeternum magnificans salutes regis eius et faciens misericordiam christo suo David et semini eius usque in saeculum Giving great deliverance to his king, and shewing mercy to David, his anointed: and to his seed for ever.

**** Latin verb tenses were checked using Lewis and Short lexicon at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=misericordiam&la=la ****

Conclusion

As I have said before, translating any text is a challenge, but it is the primary duty of the translator to be as faithful to the original text as possible. Altering or ‘simplifying’ verb tenses for ‘consistency’ or some other reason is a total disregard for the original author’s conscious choices, and his (or her) sense of Hebrew poetics; and is a disservice to the reader.

There is too much proof from comparing 2 Samuel 22 and the later Psalm 18 to doubt King David’s intent was to use future tense frequently and, in fact, predominantly.

Consequently, anyone fluent in Hebrew ends up puzzled by the Jewish translations of Art Scroll, Soncino and Machon-mamre.

The King James English is somewhat more faithful, and the closest by far is the Vulgate and especially the upper text version.

So while the Vulgate is not a full mirror image of the Hebrew, it does give the Latin reader a much better ‘feel’ for the original Hebrew’s playful and melodious full range of tense shifting: from past to present and especially to future.

The Still Small Voice - observations on the Bible

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Friday, 6 February 2015