Psa 18:44-45 | NETfull | STEP | When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me;

Psalms 18:44-45

44 When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. ^{▼▼ Heb “at a report of an ear they submit to me.” The report of the psalmist’s exploits is so impressive that those who hear it submit to his rulership without putting up a fight.}
Foreigners are powerless ^{▼▼ For the meaning “be weak, powerless” for כָּחַשׁ (kakhash), see Ps 109:24. The next line (see v. 45a), in which “foreigners” are also mentioned, favors this interpretation. Another option is to translate “cower in fear” (see Deut 33:29; Pss 66:3; 81:15; cf. NIV “cringe”; NRSV “came cringing”).} before me;
45 foreigners lose their courage; ^{▼▼ Heb “wither, wear out.”}
they shake with fear ^{▼▼ The meaning of חָרַג (kharag, “shake”) is established on the basis of cognates in Arabic and Aramaic. 2 Sam 22:46 reads חָגַר (khagar), which might mean here, “[they] come limping” (on the basis of a cognate in postbiblical Hebrew). The normal meaning for חָגַר (“gird”) makes little sense here.} as they leave ^{▼▼ Heb “from.”} their strongholds. ^{▼▼ Heb “their prisons.” The besieged cities of the foreigners are compared to prisons.}