Psalms 18:1-50

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. The ways of God are without fault. The LORD’s words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him. Who is God? Only the LORD. Who is the Rock? Only our God. God is my protection. He makes my way free from fault. He makes me like a deer that does not stumble; he helps me stand on the steep mountains. He trains my hands for battle so my arms can bend a bronze bow. You protect me with your saving shield. You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great. You give me a better way to live, so I live as you want me to. I chased my enemies and caught them. I did not quit until they were destroyed. I crushed them so they couldn’t rise up again. They fell beneath my feet. You gave me strength in battle. You made my enemies bow before me. You made my enemies turn back, and I destroyed those who hated me. They called for help, but no one came to save them. They called to the LORD, but he did not answer them. I beat my enemies into pieces, like dust in the wind. I poured them out like mud in the streets. You saved me when the people attacked me. You made me the leader of nations. People I never knew serve me. As soon as they hear me, they obey me. Foreigners obey me. They all become afraid and tremble in their hiding places. The LORD lives! May my Rock be praised. Praise the God who saves me! God gives me victory over my enemies and brings people under my rule. He saves me from my enemies. You set me over those who hate me. You saved me from violent people. So I will praise you, LORD, among the nations. I will sing praises to your name. The LORD gives great victories to his king. He is loyal to his appointed king, to David and his descendants forever.