18:1   How I love you, LORD! You are my defender.

18:2   The LORD is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe.

18:3   I call to the LORD, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the LORD!

18:4   The danger of death was all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me.

18:5   The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me.

18:6   In my trouble I called to the LORD; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

18:7   Then the earth trembled and shook; the foundations of the mountains rocked and quivered, because God was angry.

18:8   Smoke poured out of his nostrils, a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.

18:9   He tore the sky open and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.

18:10   He flew swiftly on his winged creature; he traveled on the wings of the wind.

18:11   He covered himself with darkness; thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him.

18:12   Hailstones and flashes of fire came from the lightning before him and broke through the dark clouds.

18:13   Then the LORD thundered from the sky; and the voice of the Most High was heard.

18:14   He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; with flashes of lightning he sent them running.

18:15   The floor of the ocean was laid bare, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered, when you rebuked your enemies, LORD, and roared at them in anger.

18:16   The LORD reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me out of the deep waters.

18:17   He rescued me from my powerful enemies and from all those who hate me--- they were too strong for me.

18:18   When I was in trouble, they attacked me, but the LORD protected me.

18:19   He helped me out of danger; he saved me because he was pleased with me.

18:20   The LORD rewards me because I do what is right; he blesses me because I am innocent.

18:21   I have obeyed the law of the LORD; I have not turned away from my God.

18:22   I have observed all his laws; I have not disobeyed his commands.

18:23   He knows that I am faultless, that I have kept myself from doing wrong.

18:24   And so he rewards me because I do what is right, because he knows that I am innocent.

18:25   O LORD, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you; completely good to those who are perfect.

18:26   You are pure to those who are pure, but hostile to those who are wicked.

18:27   You save those who are humble, but you humble those who are proud.

18:28   O LORD, you give me light; you dispel my darkness.

18:29   You give me strength to attack my enemies and power to overcome their defenses.

18:30   This God---how perfect are his deeds! How dependable his words! He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.

18:31   The LORD alone is God; God alone is our defense.

18:32   He is the God who makes me strong, who makes my pathway safe.

18:33   He makes me sure-footed as a deer; he keeps me safe on the mountains.

18:34   He trains me for battle, so that I can use the strongest bow.

18:35   O LORD, you protect me and save me; your care has made me great, and your power has kept me safe.

18:36   You have kept me from being captured, and I have never fallen.

18:37   I pursue my enemies and catch them; I do not stop until I destroy them.

18:38   I strike them down, and they cannot rise; they lie defeated before me.

18:39   You give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies.

18:40   You make my enemies run from me; I destroy those who hate me.

18:41   They cry for help, but no one saves them; they call to the LORD, but he does not answer.

18:42   I crush them, so that they become like dust which the wind blows away. I trample on them like mud in the streets.

18:43   You saved me from a rebellious people and made me ruler over the nations; people I did not know have now become my subjects.

18:44   Foreigners bow before me; when they hear me, they obey.

18:45   They lose their courage and come trembling from their fortresses.

18:46   The LORD lives! Praise my defender! Proclaim the greatness of the God who saves me.

18:47   He gives me victory over my enemies; he subdues the nations under me

18:48   and saves me from my foes. O LORD, you give me victory over my enemies and protect me from violent people.

18:49   And so I praise you among the nations; I sing praises to you.

18:50   God gives great victories to his king; he shows constant love to the one he has chosen, to David and his descendants forever.