Psalms 18:40 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Psalms 18:38 I will smite them through, so that they shall not be able to rise: They shall fall under my feet.

Psalms 18:39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

Psalms 18:40 Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.

Psalms 18:41 They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.

Psalms 18:42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "thou", "hast", "mine", "enemies", "turn", "backs", "might", and "hate". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "thou" and "hast", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 39's "For thou hast girded me with strength..." into verse 41's "They cried but there was none to...", so "thou" and "hast" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "thou" and "hast" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.