18:1 (For the music leader. A psalm by David, the LORD's servant. David sang this to the LORD after the LORD had rescued him from his enemies, but especially from Saul.) I love you, LORD God, and you make me strong. |
18:2 You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter. |
18:3 I praise you, LORD! I prayed, and you rescued me from my enemies. |
18:4 Death had wrapped its ropes around me, and I was almost swallowed by its flooding waters. |
18:5 Ropes from the world of the dead had coiled around me, and death had set a trap in my path. |
18:6 I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, but from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer. |
18:7 The earth shook and shivered, and the mountains trembled down to their roots. You were angry |
18:8 and breathed out smoke. Scorching heat and fiery flames spewed from your mouth. |
18:9 You opened the heavens like curtains, and you came down with storm clouds under your feet. |
18:10 You rode on the backs of flying creatures and swooped down with the wind as wings. |
18:11 Darkness was your robe; thunderclouds filled the sky, hiding you from sight. |
18:12 Hailstones and fiery coals lit up the sky in front of you. |
18:13 LORD Most High, your voice thundered from the heavens, as hailstones and fiery coals poured down like rain. |
18:14 You scattered your enemies with arrows of lightning. |
18:15 You roared at the sea, and its deepest channels could be seen. You snorted, and the earth shook to its foundations. |
18:16 You reached down from heaven, and you lifted me from deep in the ocean. |
18:17 You rescued me from enemies, who were hateful and too powerful for me. |
18:18 On the day disaster struck, they came and attacked, but you defended me. |
18:19 When I was fenced in, you freed and rescued me because you love me. |
18:20 You are good to me, LORD, because I do right, and you reward me because I am innocent. |
18:21 I do what you want and never turn to do evil. |
18:22 I keep your laws in mind and never look away from your teachings. |
18:23 I obey you completely and guard against sin. |
18:24 You have been good to me because I do right; you have rewarded me for being innocent by your standards. |
18:25 You are always loyal to your loyal people, and you are faithful to the faithful. |
18:26 With all who are sincere, you are sincere, but you treat the unfaithful as their deeds deserve. |
18:27 You rescue the humble, but you put down all who are proud. |
18:28 You, the LORD God, keep my lamp burning and turn darkness to light. |
18:29 You help me defeat armies and capture cities. |
18:30 Your way is perfect, LORD, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help. |
18:31 You alone are God! Only you are a mighty rock. |
18:32 You give me strength and guide me right. |
18:33 You make my feet run as fast as those of a deer, and you help me stand on the mountains. |
18:34 You teach my hands to fight and my arms to use a bow of bronze. |
18:35 You alone are my shield. Your right hand supports me, and by coming to help me, you have made me famous. |
18:36 You clear the way for me, and now I won't stumble. |
18:37 I kept chasing my enemies, until I caught them and destroyed them. |
18:38 I stuck my sword through my enemies, and they were crushed under my feet. |
18:39 You helped me win victories, and you forced my attackers to fall victim to me. |
18:40 You made my enemies run, and I killed them. |
18:41 They cried out for help, but no one saved them; they called out to you, but there was no answer. |
18:42 I ground them to dust blown by the wind, and I poured them out like mud in the streets. |
18:43 You rescued me from stubborn people, and you made me the leader of foreign nations, who are now my slaves. |
18:44 They obey and come crawling. |
18:45 They have lost all courage, and from their fortresses, they come trembling. |
18:46 You are the living LORD! I will praise you. You are a mighty rock. I will honor you for keeping me safe. |
18:47 You took revenge for me, and you put nations in my power. |
18:48 You protected me from violent enemies and made me much greater than all of them. |
18:49 I will praise you, LORD, and I will honor you among the nations. |
18:50 You give glorious victories to your chosen king. Your faithful love for David and for his descendants will never end. |