Psalms — Chapter 18

1I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

7Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

9He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

11He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

14Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

15Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

17He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

18They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

19He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

28For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

33He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

34He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

37I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

41They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

45The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

46The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

48He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

50Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

1I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.

2Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

3I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4The cords of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

5The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.

6In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry before him came into his ears.

7Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the mountains quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.

8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.

9He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.

10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.

11He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

12At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.

13Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.

14And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.

15Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters.

17He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.

18They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.

19He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20Jehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

21For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

22For all his ordinances were before me, And I put not away his statutes from me.

23I was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect;

26With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward.

27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; But the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down.

28For thou wilt light my lamp: Jehovah my God will lighten my darkness.

29For by thee I run upon a troop; And by my God do I leap over a wall.

30As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him.

31For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, besides our God,

32The God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect?

33He maketh my feet like hinds` [feet]: And setteth me upon my high places.

34He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy gentleness hath made me great.

36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.

37I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them; Neither will I turn again till they are consumed.

38I will smite them through, so that they shall not be able to rise: They shall fall under my feet.

39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.

41They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.

42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.

43Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; Thou hast made me the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me; The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me.

45The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places.

46Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation,

47Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And subdueth peoples under me.

48He rescueth me from mine enemies; Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.

49Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name.

50Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore. Psalm 19 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1For the music director, by the Lord’s servant David, who sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. He said: “I love you, Lord, my source of strength!

2The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge.

3I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.

4The waves of death engulfed me, the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.

5The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me.

6In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

7The earth heaved and shook. The roots of the mountains trembled; they heaved because he was angry.

8Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth. He hurled down fiery coals.

9He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.

10He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.

11He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.

12From the brightness in front of him came hail and fiery coals.

13The Lord thundered in the sky; the Most High shouted.

14He shot his arrows and scattered them, many lightning bolts and routed them.

15The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by your battle cry, Lord, by the powerful breath from your nose.

16He reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me from the surging water.

17He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.

18They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

19He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.

20The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

21For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands; I have not rebelled against my God.

22For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.

23I was innocent before him, and kept myself from sinning.

24The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.

25You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.

26You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.

27For you deliver oppressed people, but you bring down those who have a proud look.

28Indeed, you light my lamp, Lord. My God illuminates the darkness around me.

29Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my God’s power I can jump over a wall.

30The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord’s promise is reliable. He is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

31Indeed, who is God besides the Lord? Who is a protector besides our God?

32The one true God gives me strength; he removes the obstacles in my way.

33He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.

34He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.

35You give me your protective shield; your right hand supports me. Your willingness to help enables me to prevail.

36You widen my path; my feet do not slip.

37I chase my enemies and catch them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.

38I beat them to death; they fall at my feet.

39You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.

40You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me.

41They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

42I grind them as fine windblown dust; I beat them underfoot like clay in the streets.

43You rescue me from a hostile army. You make me a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

44When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me.

45Foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.

46The Lord is alive! My Protector is praiseworthy. The God who delivers me is exalted as king.

47The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me.

48He delivers me from my enemies. You snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men.

49So I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord. I will sing praises to you.

50He gives his king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and his descendants forever.”

1I love you, Yahweh, my strength.

2Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

3I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies.

4The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

5The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me.

6In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears.

7Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.

8Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.

9He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.

10He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.

11He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

12At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.

13Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire.

14He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.

15Then the channels of waters appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

16He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.

17He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.

18They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.

19He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.

21For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away his statutes from me.

23I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.

24Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.

26With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.

27For you will save the afflicted people, but the haughty eyes you will bring down.

28For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.

29For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.

30As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

31For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God,

32the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?

33He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and sets me on my high places.

34He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.

35You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.

36You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped.

37I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed.

38I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet.

39For you have armed me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.

41They cried, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.

42Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets.

43You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me.

45The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their close places.

46Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,

47even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me.

48He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.

49Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name.

50He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.