Psalms 18
Psalm 181
For the music director; by the Lord’s servant David, who sang2 to the Lord the words of this song when3 the Lord rescued him from the power4 of all his enemies, including Saul.5
18:1 He said:6
“I love7 you, Lord, my source of strength!8
18:2 The Lord is my high ridge,9 my stronghold,10 my deliverer.
My God is my rocky summit where11 I take shelter,12
my shield, the horn that saves me,13 and my refuge.14
18:3 I called15 to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,16
and I was delivered from my enemies.
18:4 The waves17 of death engulfed me,
the currents18 of chaos19 overwhelmed me.20
18:5 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me,21
the snares of death trapped me.22
18:6 In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried out to my God.23
From his heavenly temple24 he heard my voice;
he listened to my cry for help.25
18:7 The earth heaved and shook;26
the roots of the mountains27 trembled;28
they heaved because he was angry.
18:8 Smoke ascended from29 his nose;30
fire devoured as it came from his mouth;31
he hurled down fiery coals.32
18:9 He made the sky sink33 as he descended;
a thick cloud was under his feet.
18:10 He mounted34 a winged angel35 and flew;
he glided36 on the wings of the wind.37
18:11 He shrouded himself in darkness,38
in thick rain clouds.39
18:12 From the brightness in front of him came
hail and fiery coals.40
18:13 The Lord thundered41 in42 the sky;
the sovereign One43 shouted.44
18:14 He shot his45 arrows and scattered them,46
many lightning bolts47 and routed them.48
18:15 The depths49 of the sea50 were exposed;
the inner regions51 of the world were uncovered
by the powerful breath from your nose.54
18:16 He reached down55 from above and took hold of me;
he pulled me from the surging water.56
18:17 He rescued me from my strong enemy,57
from those who hate me,
for they were too strong for me.
18:18 They confronted58 me in my day of calamity,
but the Lord helped me.59
18:19 He brought me out into a wide open place;
he delivered me because he was pleased with me.60
18:20 The Lord repaid61 me for my godly deeds;62
he rewarded63 my blameless behavior.64
18:21 For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands;65
I have not rebelled against my God.66
18:22 For I am aware of all his regulations,67
and I do not reject his rules.68
18:23 I was innocent before him,
and kept myself from sinning.69
18:24 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds;70
he took notice of my blameless behavior.71
18:25 You prove to be loyal72 to one who is faithful;73
you prove to be trustworthy74 to one who is innocent.75
18:26 You prove to be reliable76 to one who is blameless,
but you prove to be deceptive77 to one who is perverse.78
18:27 For you deliver oppressed79 people,
but you bring down those who have a proud look.80
18:28 Indeed,81 you are my lamp, Lord.82
My God83 illuminates the darkness around me.84
18:29 Indeed,85 with your help86 I can charge against87 an army;88
by my God’s power89 I can jump over a wall.90
18:30 The one true God acts in a faithful manner;91
the Lord’s promise92 is reliable;93
he is a shield to all who take shelter94 in him.
18:31 Indeed,95 who is God besides the Lord?
Who is a protector96 besides our God?97
18:32 The one true God98 gives99 me strength;100
he removes101 the obstacles in my way.102
18:33 He gives me the agility of a deer;103
he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.104
18:34 He trains my hands for battle;105
my arms can bend even the strongest bow.106
18:35 You give me your protective shield;107
your right hand supports me;108
your willingness to help109 enables me to prevail.110
18:36 You widen my path;111
my feet112 do not slip.
18:37 I chase my enemies and catch113 them;
I do not turn back until I wipe them out.
18:38 I beat them114 to death;115
they fall at my feet.116
18:39 You give me strength117 for battle;
you make my foes kneel before me.118
18:40 You make my enemies retreat;119
I destroy those who hate me.120
18:41 They cry out, but there is no one to help them;121
they cry out to the Lord,122 but he does not answer them.
18:42 I grind them as fine windblown dust;123
I beat them underfoot124 like clay125 in the streets.
18:43 You rescue me from a hostile army;126
you make me127 a leader of nations;
people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.128
18:44 When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.129
Foreigners are powerless130 before me;
18:45 foreigners lose their courage;131
they shake with fear132 as they leave133 their strongholds.134
18:46 The Lord is alive!135
My protector136 is praiseworthy!137
The God who delivers me138 is exalted as king!139
18:47 The one true God140 completely vindicates me;141
he makes nations submit to me.142
18:48 He delivers me143 from my enemies;
you snatch me away144 from those who attack me;145
you rescue me from violent men.
18:49 So I will give you thanks before the nations,146 O Lord!
I will sing praises to you!147
18:50 He148 gives his chosen king magnificent victories;149
he is faithful150 to his chosen ruler,151