Psalms 18
18
Psalm 18#18.0 This poem also occurs in 2 Sam 22 with some variations.
For the music leader. Of David the LORD’s servant, who spoke the words of this song to the LORD after the LORD delivered him from the power of all his enemies and from Saul.
1He said: I love you, LORD, my strength.
2The LORD is my solid rock,
my fortress, my rescuer.
My God is my rock—
I take refuge in him!—
he’s my shield,
my salvation’s strength,
my place of safety.
3Because he is praiseworthy,#18.3 Heb uncertain
I cried out to the LORD,
and I was saved from my enemies.
4Death’s cords were wrapped around me;
rivers of wickedness terrified me.
5The cords of the grave#18.5 Heb Sheol surrounded me;
death’s traps held me tight.
6In my distress I cried out to the LORD;
I called to my God for help.
God heard my voice from his temple;
I called to him for help,
and my call reached his ears.
7The earth rocked and shook;
the bases of the mountains trembled and reeled
because of God’s anger.
8Smoke went up from God’s nostrils;
out of his mouth came a devouring fire;
flaming coals blazed out in front of him!
9God parted the skies and came down;
thick darkness was beneath his feet.
10God mounted the heavenly creatures and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11God made darkness cloak him;
his covering was dark water and dense cloud.
12God’s clouds went ahead
of the brightness before him;
hail and coals of fire went too.
13The LORD thundered in heaven;
the Most High made his voice heard
with hail and coals of fire.
14God shot his arrows, scattering the enemy;
he sent the lightning and threw them into confusion.
15The seabeds were exposed;
the earth’s foundations were laid bare
at your rebuke, LORD,
at the angry blast of air coming from your nostrils.
16From on high God reached down and grabbed me;
he took me out of all that water.
17God saved me from my powerful enemy,
saved me from my foes,
who were too much for me.
18They came at me on the very day of my distress,
but the LORD was my support.
19He brought me out to wide-open spaces;
he pulled me out safe
because he is pleased with me.
20The LORD rewarded me for my righteousness;
he restored me because my hands are clean,
21because I have kept the LORD’s ways.
I haven’t acted wickedly against my God.
22All his rules are right in front of me;
I haven’t turned away from any of his laws.
23I have lived with integrity before him;
I’ve kept myself from wrongdoing.
24And so the LORD restored me for my righteousness
because my hands are clean in his eyes.
25You deal faithfully with the faithful;
you show integrity
toward the one who has integrity.
26You are pure toward the pure,
but toward the crooked, you are tricky.
27You are the one who saves people who suffer
and brings down those with proud eyes.
28You are the one who lights my lamp—
the LORD my God illumines my darkness.
29With you I can charge into battle;
with my God I can leap over a wall.
30God! His way is perfect;
the LORD’s word is tried and true.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
31Now really, who is divine except the LORD?
And who is a rock but our God?
32Only God! The God who equips me with strength
and makes my way perfect,
33who makes my step as sure as the deer’s,
who lets me stand securely on the heights,
34who trains my hands for war
so my arms can bend a bronze bow.
35You’ve given me the shield of your salvation;
your strong hand has supported me;
your help has made me great.
36You’ve let me walk fast and safe,
without even twisting an ankle.
37I chased my enemies and caught them!
I didn’t come home until I finished them off.
38I struck them down;
they couldn’t get up again;
they fell under my feet.
39You equipped me with strength for war;
you brought my adversaries down underneath me.
40You made my enemies turn tail from me;
I destroyed my foes.
41They cried for help,
but there was no one to save them.
They cried for help to the LORD,
but he wouldn’t answer them.
42I crushed them
like dust blown away by the wind;
I threw them out
like mud dumped in the streets.
43You delivered me from struggles with many people;
you appointed me the leader of many nations.
Strangers come to serve me.
44After hearing about me, they obey me;
foreigners grovel before me.
45Foreigners lose their nerve;
they come trembling out of their fortresses.#18.45 Or prisons
46The LORD lives! Bless God, my rock!
Let the God of my salvation be lifted high!
47This is the God who avenges on my behalf,
who subdues people before me,
48who delivers me from my enemies.
Yes, you lifted me high above my adversaries;
you delivered me from violent people.
49That’s why I thank you, LORD,
in the presence of the nations.
That’s why I sing praises to your name.
50You are the one who gives great victories to your king,
who shows faithful love to your anointed one—
to David and to his descendants forever.
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Psalms 18: CEB
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