Psalm 18

The music in these posts is entirely derived from the accents in the Hebrew Bible. Introductions - letters, music, text and music, and terminology, are here.

Psalms 18: Syllables: 973; Longest recitation: 11; Tenor: e 26.52%;
Ornament density: 12.4%; Average phrase length: 8.9.

Sometimes between the Leningrad codex and the crown, a mercha is rewritten as a silluq. Verse 7 below had such an example. It made little difference to the music since there was only one syllable on the lower note. At a later date I hope to find a way to present this psalm in comparison with its double in 2 Samuel. By then we should understand both sets of te'amim more fully. (Talk about paying attention to jots and tittles -- I hope I don't neglect the important instructions!)

Psalms 18: (Verses 1 to 16) Syllables: 360; Longest recitation: 11; Tenor: e 25.00%;
Ornament density: 15.2%; Average phrase length: 10.2.

1 For the leader. Of a servant of Yahweh. Of David, who spoke to Yahweh the words of this particular song, in the day Yahweh delivered him from the slap of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. (1-2-4-1)
א למנצ֤ח לע֥בד יהו֗ה לד֫ו֥ד אש֤ר דב֨ר ליהו֗ה את־ד֭ברי השיר֣ה הז֑את בי֤ום הֽציל־יהו֘ה אות֥ו מכ֥ף כל־א֝יב֗יו ומי֥ד שאֽול	12 14 18		a lmnxk lybd ihvh ldvid awr dibr lihvh at-dbri hwirh hzat biom hxil-ihvh aoto mcf cl-aoibiv umid waul
2 and he said, I am passionate about you, Yahweh, my courage. (1-1)
ב ויאמ֡ר ארחמך֖ יהו֣ה חזקֽי	10		b viamr arkmç ihvh kzqi
3 Yahweh my cliff, and my fortress and my security, my God my rock. I will take refuge in him. My shield and the horn of my salvation, my retreat. (1-2-4-1)
ג יהו֤ה סֽלע֥י ומצודת֗י ומפ֫לט֥י אל֣י צ֭ורי אֽחסה־ב֑ו מֽגנ֥י וקֽרן־י֝שע֗י משגבֽי	11 8 11		g ihvh slyi umxudti umplTi ali xuri aksh-bo mgini vqrn-iwyi mwgbi
4 ♪g Praising I will call Yahweh, and from my enemies I will be saved. (g-1-4-1)
ד מ֭הלל אקר֣א יהו֑ה ומן־א֝יב֗י אושֽע	7 8		d mhull aqra ihvh umn-aoibii aivvwy
5 Enveloping me were death pangs, and torrents of worthlessness alarmed me. (1-4-1)
ה אפפ֥וני חבלי־מ֑ות וֽנחל֖י בלי֣על יבֽעתֽוני	7 13		h appuni kbli-mvvt vnkli bliiyl ibytuni
6 The pangs of the grave surrounded me. Confronting me were death traps. (1-4-1)
ו חבל֣י שא֣ול סבב֑וני ק֝דמ֗וני מ֣וקשי מֽות	8 7		v kbli waol sbbuni qidmuni moqwi mvvt
7 In my straits I call upon Yahweh and to my God I cry for help. He hears from his temple my voice, and my cry to his face comes into his ears. (1-2-4-1)
ז בצר־ל֤י א֥קר֣א יהוה֮ ואל־אלה֪י אש֫ו֥ע ישמ֣ע מהיכל֣ו קול֑י ו֝שועת֗י לפנ֤יו תב֬וא באזנֽיו	16 8 12		z bxr-li aqra ihvh val-alohii awvvy iwmy mhiclo qoli vwvvyti lpniv tboa baozniv
8 And the earth shakes and quakes, and the foundations of the hills shudder, and are shaken for he was burning with anger. (1-4-1)
ח ותגע֬ש ותרע֨ש הא֗רץ ומוסד֣י הר֣ים ירג֑זו ו֝יתגֽעש֗ו כי־ח֥רה לֽו	17 8		k vtgyw vtryw harx umosdi hrim irgzu vitgywu ci-krh lo
9 ♪~ A smoke ascends in his nostrils and fire from his mouth devours. Coals were kindled from it. (~1-4-1)
ט ע֘ל֤ה עש֨ן באפ֗ו ואש־מפ֥יו תאכ֑ל ג֝חל֗ים בער֥ו ממֽנו	13 9		T ylh ywn bapo vaw-mpiv tacl gklim byru mmnu
10 And he bends heavens and descends, with dark turbulence under his feet. (1-4-1)
י וי֣ט ש֭מים ויר֑ד ו֝ערפ֗ל ת֣חת רגלֽיו	7 8		i viT wmiim viird vyrpl tkt rgliv
11 And he rides on a cherub and he flies. And he darts on the wings of the wind. (1-4-1)
יא וירכ֣ב על־כ֭רוב ויע֑ף ו֝י֗דא על־כנפי־רֽוח	9 7		ia vircb yl-crub viyof viida yl-cnpi-ruk
12 ♪C He sets darkness his hiding place, round about him his booth, dark waters, thick clouds of the skies. (C-1-4-1)
יב י֤שת ח֨שך סתר֗ו סבֽיבות֥יו סכת֑ו חשכת־מ֝֗ים עב֥י שחקֽים	13 8		ib iwt kowç stro sbibotiv sucto kwct-mim ybi wkqim
13 From the luminous before him his thick clouds passed by, hail and coals of fire. (1-2-4-1)
יג מנ֗גה נ֫גד֥ו עב֥יו עבר֑ו ב֝ר֗ד וגֽחלי־אֽש	9 7		ig mnogh ngdo ybiv ybru brd vgkli-aw
14 And Yahweh thunders in the heavens, and the Most High gives his voice, hail and coals of fire. (1-4-1)
יד וירע֬ם בשמ֨ים יֽהו֗ה ו֭עליון ית֣ן קל֑ו ב֝ר֗ד וגֽחלי־אֽש	15 7		id virym bwmiim ihvh vylion iitn qolo brd vgkli-aw
15 And he sends his arrows and disperses them. And lightnings he multiplies and confuses them. (1-4-1)
טו וישל֣ח ח֭ציו ויפיצ֑ם וברק֥ים ר֝ב ויהמֽם	8 7		Tv viwlk kixiv vipixm ubrqim rb vihumm
16 Then seen are channels of waters, and discovered are the foundations of the world, at your rebuke Yahweh, at the breath of the wind of your nostrils. (1-2-4-1)
טז וי֤רא֨ו אפ֥יקי מ֗ים וֽיגלו֮ מוסד֪ות ת֫ב֥ל מגער֣תך֣ יהו֑ה מ֝נשמ֗ת ר֣וח אפֽך	16 7 8		Tz viirau apiqi mim viiglu mosdot tbl mgyrtç ihvh mnwmt ruk apç

Psalms 18: (Verses 17 to 35) Syllables: 325; Longest recitation: 9; Tenor: e 24.62%;
Ornament density: 10.8%; Average phrase length: 8.3.

17 He will send from on high. He will take me. He will draw me out from many waters. (1-4-1)
יז ישל֣ח מ֭מרום יקח֑ני יֽ֝מש֗ני ממ֥ים רבֽים	9 7		iz iwlk mmrom iiqkni imwni mmim rbim
18 He will deliver me from my strong enemy, and from those hating me, for they are more assured than I. (1-4-1)
יח יציל֗ני מאיב֥י ע֑ז ו֝משנא֗י כֽי־אמצ֥ו ממֽני	8 10		ik ixilni maoibi yz umwonaii ci-amxu mmni
19 They will confront me in the day of my misfortune, but Yahweh becomes my staff. (1-4-1)
יט יקדמ֥וני ביום־איד֑י וֽיהי־יהו֖ה למשע֣ן לֽי	8 9		iT iqdmuni biom-aidi vihi-ihvh lmwyn li
20 He has brought me out into a spacious room. He will rescue me for he delighted in me. (1-4-1)
כ ויוציא֥ני למרח֑ב י֝חלצ֗ני כ֘י ח֥פֽץ בֽי	8 8		c vioxiani lmrkb iklxni ci kpx bi
21 Yahweh will reward me for my righteousness, for the purity of my hands he will turn to me. (1-4-1)
כא יגמל֣ני יהו֣ה כצדק֑י כב֥ר י֝ד֗י יש֥יב לֽי	9 7		ca igmlni ihvh cxdqi cbor idii iwib li
22 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and I have not been wicked with my God. (1-4-1)
כב כֽי־ש֭מרתי דרכ֣י יהו֑ה ולֽא־ר֝ש֗עתי מאלהֽי	7 8		cb ci-wmrti drci ihvh vla-rwyti malohii
23 ♪B For all his judgments are before me, and his statutes I will not put aside from me. (B-1-4-1)
כג כ֣י כל־משפט֣יו לנגד֑י ו֝חקת֗יו לא־אס֥יר מֽני	8 8		cg ci cl-mwpTiv lngdi vkuqotiv la-asir mni
24 And I am complete with him, and I have kept myself from my iniquity. (1-4-1)
כד ואה֣י תמ֣ים עמ֑ו ו֝אשתמ֗ר מעונֽי	7 8		cd vahi tmim yimo vawtmr myvoni
25 And Yahweh turned to me for my righteousness, for the purity of my hands before his eyes. (1-4-1)
כה ויֽשב־יהו֣ה ל֣י כצדק֑י כב֥ר י֝ד֗י לנ֣גד עינֽיו	9 9		ch viwb-ihvh li cxdqi cbor idii lngd yiniv
26 With one who is kind you show yourself kind. With one who prevails complete you show yourself complete. (1-4-1)
כו עם־חס֥יד תתחס֑ד עם־גב֥ר ת֝מ֗ים תתמֽם	6 8		cv ym-ksid ttksd ym-gbr tmim titmm
27 With the pure you show yourself pure, and with the devious you show yourself tortuous. (1-4-1)
כז עם־נב֥ר תתבר֑ר ועם־ע֝ק֗ש תתפתֽל	6 7		cz ym-nbr ttbrr vym-yiqw ttptl
28 For you yourself an impoverished people will save, and eyes exalted you will humble. (1-4-1)
כח כֽי־א֭תה עם־ענ֣י תוש֑יע ועינ֖ים רמ֣ות תשפֽיל	8 7		ck ci-ath ym-yni towiy vyiniim rmot twpil
29 For you yourself will light my lamp. Yahweh my God will illuminate my darkness. (1-4-1)
כט כֽי־א֭תה תא֣יר נר֑י יהו֥ה א֝לה֗י יג֥יה חשכֽי	6 10		cT ci-ath tair nri ihvh alohii igih kowci
30 For in you I have raced a raiding party, and in my God I have leapt a barrier. (1-4-1)
ל כֽי־ב֭ך אר֣ץ גד֑וד ו֝בֽאלה֗י אדלג־שֽור	7 8		l ci-bç arux gdud ubalohii adlg-wur
31 This God, his way is complete, the promise of Yahweh refined. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him. (1-2-4-1)
לא האל֮ תמ֪ים ד֫רכ֥ו אמרֽת־יהו֥ה צרופ֑ה מג֥ן ה֝֗וא לכ֤ל החס֬ים בֽו	6 7 9		la hal tmim drco amrt-ihvh xruph mgn hua lcol hkosim bo
32 ♪C For who is God apart from Yahweh? And who a rock except our God? (C-1-4-1)
לב כ֤י מ֣י א֭לוה מבלעד֣י יהו֑ה ומ֥י צ֝֗ור זולת֥י אלהֽינו	11 10		lb ci mi aloh mblydi ihvh umi xur zulti alohinu
33 ♪g This God girds me in force, and he gives the completeness of my way, (g-1-4-1)
לג ה֭אל המאזר֣ני ח֑יל וית֖ן תמ֣ים דרכֽי	8 7		lg hal hmazrni kil viitn tmim drci
34 making my feet resemble the hart, and on my high places he stands me, (1-4-1)
לד משו֣ה ר֭גלי כאיל֑ות וע֥ל ב֝מת֗י יעמידֽני	9 10		ld mwvvh rglii caiilot vyl bmotii iymidni
35 in teaching my hands to war, and he has pinned brazen bow by my arms. (1-4-1)
לה מלמ֣ד י֭די למלחמ֑ה וֽנחת֥ה קֽשת־נ֝חוש֗ה זרועתֽי	9 13		lh mlmd idii lmlkmh vnikth qwt-nkuwh zroyotii

Psalms 18: (Verses 36 to 51) Syllables: 288; Longest recitation: 9; Tenor: e 30.21%;
Ornament density: 10.8%; Average phrase length: 8.2.

36 And you gave me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand confirms me, and your gentleness gives me increase. (1-2-4-1)
לו ותתן־לי֮ מג֪ן י֫שע֥ך וֽימינך֥ תסעד֑ני וֽענותך֥ תרבֽני	9 7 7		lv vtitn-li mgn iwyç viminç tsydni vynvvtç trbni
37 You will broaden my paces under me, lest my ankles be unstable. (1-4-1)
לז תרח֣יב צעד֣י תחת֑י ול֥א מ֝עד֗ו קרסלֽי	7 8		lz trkib xydi tktii vla mydu qrsulii
38 I will pursue my enemies and will overtake them, and I will not turn back until they are finished. (1-4-1)
לח ארד֣וף א֭ויבי ואשיג֑ם ולֽא־א֝שוב עד־כלותֽם	8 7		lk ardof aoibii vawigm vla-awub yd-clotm
39 ♪g I will wound them and they will not be able to arise. They will fall under my feet. (g-1-4-1)
לט א֭מחצם ולא־י֣כלו ק֑ום י֝פל֗ו ת֣חת רגלֽי	8 6		lT amkxm vla-iuclu qum iiplu tkt rglii
40 And you will gird me with force for the war. Those arising against me, you will bow down under me. (1-4-1)
מ ותאזר֣ני ח֭יל למלחמ֑ה תכר֖יע קמ֣י תחתֽי	10 7		m vtazrni kil lmlkmh tcriy qmii tktii
41 And the nape of my enemies you have given to me. And those hating me, I will annihilate them. (1-4-1)
מא וֽאיב֗י נת֣תה ל֣י ע֑רף ו֝משנא֗י אצמיתֽם	9 6		ma vaoibii ntt li yorf umwnaii axmitm
42 They will cry for help and there is no salvation, to Yahweh and he did not answer them. (1-4-1)
מב ישוע֥ו ואין־מוש֑יע על־י֝הו֗ה ול֣א ענֽם	8 7		mb iwvvyu vain-mowiy yl-ihvh vla ynm
43 And I pulverized them like dust in the face of a wind, as dirt of the streets I did away with them. (1-4-1)
מג וֽאשחק֗ם כעפ֥ר על־פני־ר֑וח כט֖יט חוצ֣ות אריקֽם	11 7		mg vawkqm cypr yl-pni-ruk cTiT kuxot ariqm
44 You will secure me in the disputes of the people. You will set me up as the beginning of nations. A people I did not know will serve me. (1-2-4-1)
מד תפלטני֮ מר֪יב֫י־ע֥ם ת֭שימני לר֣אש גוי֑ם ע֖ם לא־יד֣עתי יֽעבדֽוני	8 8 8		md tplTni mribi-ym twimni lraw goiim ym la-idyti iybduni
45 Hearing by ear they will hear of me. The children of the alien cringe to me. (1-4-1)
מה לש֣מֽע א֭זן יש֣מעו ל֑י בנֽי־נ֝כ֗ר יכחשו־לֽי	9 8		mh lwmy aozn iiwmyu li bni-ncr ickwu-li
46 The children of the alien will wither, no longer at ease from within their prisons. (1-4-1)
מו בני־נכ֥ר יב֑לו ו֝יחרג֗ו מֽמסגרֽותיהֽם	6 10		mv bni-ncr iibolu vikrgu mmsgrotihm
47 Yahweh lives and blessed is my rock. The God of my salvation will be exalted. (1-4-1)
מז חי־י֭הוה ובר֣וך צור֑י ו֝יר֗ום אלוה֥י ישעֽי	9 8		mz ki-ihvh ubruç xuri virum alohi iwyi
48 This God gives my vengeance, and he subjugates peoples under me. (1-4-1)
מח הא֗ל הנות֣ן נקמ֣ות ל֑י וידב֖ר עמ֣ים תחתֽי	9 7		mk hal hnotn nqmot li vidbr ymim tktii
49 He secures me from my enemies. Indeed from those arising against me you will exalt me. From a violent person you will deliver me. (1-2-4-1)
מט מפלט֗י מא֫יב֥י א֣ף מן־ק֭מי תרוממ֑ני מא֥יש ח֝מ֗ס תצילֽני	6 8 8		mT mplTi maoibii af mn-qmii trommni maiw kms txilni
50 Therefore I will give you thanks among the nations Yahweh, and to your name I will sing a psalm, (1-4-1)
נ על־כ֤ן אודך֖ בגוי֥ם יהו֑ה ולשמך֥ אזמֽרה	9 7		n yl-cn aodç bgoiim ihvh ulwmç azmrh
51 for the one who magnifies the victories of his king, and does kindness for his anointed, for David and his seed for evermore. (1-2-1)
נא מגדיל֮ ישוע֪ות מ֫לכ֥ו וע֤שה ח֨סד למשיח֗ו לדו֥ד ולזרע֗ו עד־עולֽם	7 17		na mgdil iwuyot mlco vyowh ksd lmwiko ldvid ulzryo yd-yolm