Psalm 18:8-16
New Catholic Bible
8 [a]The earth swayed and rocked;
the foundations of the mountains shook,
rocking because of his blazing anger.
9 Smoke poured forth from his nostrils,
while a scorching fire blazed out of his mouth
and kindled coals into flame.
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds lay under his feet.
11 He rode upon a cherub,[b]
soaring swiftly on the wings of the wind.
12 He used the darkness as his covering,
and dense thunderclouds as his canopy.
13 From the radiance before him thick clouds emerged,
spewing hail and flashes of fire.
14 The Lord thundered from the heavens,
and the Most High let his voice be heard.
15 He shot his arrows[c] and scattered them,
hurled his lightning bolts and routed them.
16 Then the depths of the sea were exposed,
and the earth’s foundations were laid bare,
at the rebuke of the Lord,[d]
at the blast of wind from his nostrils.
Footnotes
- Psalm 18:8 In these powerful images the ancients sang of the presence and glory of God in creation and in events (see Pss 68:9f; 97:2-5; Ex 19:15-18; Jdg 5:4f; Job 36:29f; Isa 30:27f; Hab 3:3-15). The description gives a presentiment of the struggle at the end of time in which God triumphs.
- Psalm 18:11 Cherub: a winged being, represented at the entrance of Mesopotamian temples. Two cherubim stood on the Ark of the Covenant (see Ex 25:18; 1 Ki 6:23-28). God was regarded as enthroned on them (see Pss 80:2; 99:1) and riding upon the storm clouds (see Ps 104:3) or upon the cherubim.
- Psalm 18:15 Arrows: shafts of lightning (see Pss 77:18; 144:6; Hab 3:11).
- Psalm 18:16 The psalmist may be referring to the wondrous deed God accomplished at the Red Sea during the Exodus (see Ex 14:15-22).
Psalm 18:8-16
New International Version
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;(A)
consuming fire(B) came from his mouth,
burning coals(C) blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;(D)
dark clouds(E) were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim(F) and flew;
he soared(G) on the wings of the wind.(H)
11 He made darkness his covering,(I) his canopy(J) around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence(K) clouds advanced,
with hailstones(L) and bolts of lightning.(M)
13 The Lord thundered(N) from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.[a]
14 He shot his arrows(O) and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning(P) he routed them.(Q)
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations(R) of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke,(S) Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.(T)
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.(U)
Footnotes
- Psalm 18:13 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Samuel 22:14); most Hebrew manuscripts resounded, / amid hailstones and bolts of lightning
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