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.