Psalms 18:1-29

I love you, LORD. You are my strength. The LORD is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender. I will call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I will be saved from my enemies. The ropes of death came around me; the deadly rivers overwhelmed me. The ropes of death wrapped around me. The traps of death were before me. In my trouble I called to the LORD. I cried out to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my call for help reached his ears. The earth trembled and shook. The foundations of the mountains began to shake. They trembled because the LORD was angry. Smoke came out of his nose, and burning fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals went before him. He tore open the sky and came down with dark clouds under his feet. He rode a creature with wings and flew. He raced on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his shelter around him, surrounded by fog and clouds. Out of the brightness of his presence came clouds with hail and lightning. The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High raised his voice, and there was hail and lightning. He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies. His many bolts of lightning confused them with fear. LORD, you spoke strongly. The wind blew from your nose. Then the valleys of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the earth were seen. The LORD reached down from above and took me; he pulled me from the deep water. He saved me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me. They attacked me at my time of trouble, but the LORD supported me. He took me to a safe place. Because he delights in me, he saved me. The LORD spared me because I did what was right. Because I have not done evil, he has rewarded me. I have followed the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning away from my God. I remember all his laws and have not broken his rules. I am innocent before him; I have kept myself from doing evil. The LORD rewarded me because I did what was right, because I did what the LORD said was right. LORD, you are loyal to those who are loyal, and you are good to those who are good. You are pure to those who are pure, but you are against those who are bad. You save the humble, but you bring down those who are proud. LORD, you give light to my lamp. My God brightens the darkness around me. With your help I can attack an army. With God’s help I can jump over a wall.