PsalmsChapter 18

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¹For the choir leader. Of David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD saved him from all his enemies and from Saul. He said:
I love you, LORD. You are my strength. ²The LORD is my rock, my fort, and the One who saves me.
My God is my rock. I run to him to be safe.
He is my shield and the horn that saves me.
He is my strong tower. ³I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise.
Then I will be saved from my enemies. ⁴The ropes of death wrapped around me.
Wild floods of trouble swept over me. ⁵The ropes of the grave tangled around me.
The traps of death were in front of me.a ⁶In my trouble I called to the LORD.
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice.
My cry for help reached his ears. ⁷Then the earth shook and rocked.
The roots of the mountains trembled.
They shook because he was burning with anger. ⁸Smoke came up from his nose.
Fire that burns everything came from his mouth.
Red-hot coals flamed out. ⁹He opened the heavens and came down.
Dark clouds were under his feet. ¹⁰He rode on a cherub and flew.
He soared on the wings of the wind. ¹¹He made the darkness his hiding place.
He put storm clouds around him like a tent. ¹²His clouds came out from the brightness around him.
Hail and coals of fire came with them. ¹³The LORD thundered from heaven.
The voice of the Most High rang out.
Hail and coals of fire came down. ¹⁴He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies.
He threw lightning and made them run away. ¹⁵The bottom of the sea could be seen.
The foundations of the world were uncovered.
This happened when you scolded, LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nose. ¹⁶He reached down from high above and took hold of me.
He pulled me out of deep waters. ¹⁷He rescued me from my powerful enemy.
He saved me from enemies who were too strong for me. ¹⁸They came at me on the day I was in trouble.
But the LORD held me up. ¹⁹He brought me out into an open place.
He rescued me because he was pleased with me. ²⁰The LORD has rewarded me because I did what was right.
He has paid me back because my hands were clean. ²¹For I have kept the ways of the LORD.
I have not done evil by turning away from my God. ²²All his laws are in front of me.
I have not ignored his rules. ²³I have been without blame before him.
I have kept myself from sin. ²⁴So the LORD has paid me back because I did what was right,
because my hands were clean in his sight. ²⁵To the faithful, you show that you are faithful.
To those without blame, you show that you are without blame. ²⁶To the pure, you show that you are pure.
But to the crooked, you show that you are clever. ²⁷For you save people who are hurting.
But you bring down those with proud eyes. ²⁸For you, LORD, light my lamp.
My God turns my darkness into light. ²⁹For with your help I can attack an army.
With my God I can climb over a wall. ³⁰As for God, his way is perfect.
The word of the LORD has no flaws.
He is a shield to all who run to him to be safe. ³¹For who is God except the LORD?
Who is the Rock except our God? ³²It is God who gives me strength like armor.
He makes my way clear. ³³He makes my feet like the feet of a deer.
He sets me up on the high places. ³⁴He trains my hands for battle.
My arms can bend a bow of bronze. ³⁵You have given me your shield that saves me.
Your right hand holds me up.
Your gentleness makes me great. ³⁶You make a wide path for my feet,
so my ankles do not turn. ³⁷I chased my enemies and caught them.
I did not turn back until they were wiped out. ³⁸I crushed them so they could not get up.
They have fallen under my feet. ³⁹You gave me strength for battle.
You made my enemies bow down under me. ⁴⁰You made my enemies turn and run from me.
I destroyed those who hated me. ⁴¹They cried for help, but no one saved them.
They cried to the LORD, but he did not answer. ⁴²I beat them as fine as dust blown by the wind.
I stomped on them like mud in the streets. ⁴³You have saved me from the people who fought against me.
You have made me the head of nations.
A people I did not know will serve me. ⁴⁴As soon as they hear me, they obey me.
Foreigners bow down in fear before me. ⁴⁵Foreigners lose heart.
They come out trembling from their strong forts. ⁴⁶The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
May the God who saves me be honored as great. ⁴⁷He is the God who pays back my enemies for me.
He makes nations bow down under me. ⁴⁸He saves me from my enemies.
You lift me up above my enemies.
You rescue me from violent men. ⁴⁹So I will praise you, LORD, among the nations.
I will sing praises to your name. ⁵⁰He gives his king great victories.
He shows faithful love to his anointed one,
to David and his children forever.