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. |