Psalms 18:38 (YLT)

Passage

I smite them, and they are not able to rise, They fall under my feet,

Nearby Context

Psalms 18:36 Thou enlargest my step under me, And mine ankles have not slidden.

Psalms 18:37 I pursue mine enemies, and overtake them, And turn back not till they are consumed.

Psalms 18:38 I smite them, and they are not able to rise, They fall under my feet,

Psalms 18:39 And Thou girdest me <FI>with<Fi> strength for battle, Causest my withstanders to bow under me.

Psalms 18:40 As to mine enemies--Thou hast given to me the neck, As to those hating me--I cut them off.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "smite", "able", "rise", "fall", "under", and "feet". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "smite" and "able", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 37's "I pursue mine enemies and overtake them..." into verse 39's "And Thou girdest me FI with Fi...", so "smite" and "able" 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 "smite" and "able" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.