Psalms 18
18
# Psalm 18 This song is also found in 2 Sam. 22. To the director: A song of David, the Lord’s servant. He sang this song to the Lord when the Lord saved him from Saul and all his other enemies.
1I love you, Lord!
You are my strength.
2The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, my place of safety.
He is my God, the Rock I run to for protection.
He is my shield; by his power I am saved.#18:2 by his power I am saved Literally, “He is the horn of my salvation.”
He is my hiding place high in the hills.
3I called to the Lord for help,
and he saved me from my enemies!
He is worthy of my praise!
4Death had its ropes wrapped around me.
A deadly flood was carrying me away.
5The ropes of the grave wrapped around me.
Death set its trap right there in front of me.
6In my trouble I called to the Lord.
Yes, I cried out to my God for help.
There in his temple he heard my voice.
He heard my cry for help.
7The earth shook and shivered.
The foundations of the mountains trembled.
They shook because he was angry.
8Smoke came from his nose.
Burning flames came from his mouth.
Red-hot coals fell from him.
9He tore open the sky and came down!
He stood on a thick, dark cloud.
10He flew across the sky, riding on a Cherub angel
racing on the wings of the wind.
11He wrapped himself in darkness that covered him like a tent.
He was hidden by dark clouds heavy with water.
12Out of the brightness before him,
hail broke through the clouds with flashes of lightning.
13The Lord thundered from the sky;
God Most High let his voice be heard.#18:13 The ancient Greek version and some Hebrew copies add “with hailstones and bolts of lightning.”
14He scattered his enemies with his arrows—
the lightning bolts that threw them into confusion.
15Lord, you shouted your command,
and a powerful wind began to blow.#18:15 and … blow Or “and a blast of breath came from your nose.”
Then the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the earth’s foundations were uncovered.
16He reached down from above and grabbed me.
He pulled me from the deep water.
17He saved me from my powerful enemies, who hated me.
They were too strong for me, so he saved me.
18They attacked me in my time of trouble,
but the Lord was there to support me.
19He was pleased with me, so he rescued me.
He took me to a safe place.
20The Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
He was good to me because I am innocent.
21The Lord did this because I have obeyed him.
I have not turned against my God.
22I always remembered his laws.
I never rejected his rules.
23He knows I did nothing that was wrong.
I have kept myself from sinning.
24So the Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
He could see that I am innocent.
25Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful.
You are good to those who are good.
26You never do wrong to those who have done no wrong.
But you outsmart the wicked, no matter how clever they are.
27You help those who are humble,
but you humiliate the proud.
28Lord, you provide the flame for my lamp.
You, God, turn the darkness around me into light.
29With your help I can defeat an army.
If my God is with me, I can climb over enemy walls.
30God’s way is perfect.
The Lord’s promise always proves to be true.
He protects those who trust in him.
31There is no God except the Lord.
There is no Rock except our God.
32God is the one who gives me strength.
He clears the path I need to take.
33He makes my feet as steady as those of a deer.
Even on steep mountains he keeps me from falling.
34He trains me for war
so that my arms can bend the most powerful bow.
35Lord, you have given me your shield to protect me.
You support me with your right hand.
It is your help that has made me great.
36You cleared a path for my feet
so that I could walk without stumbling.
37I chased my enemies and caught them.
I did not stop until they were destroyed.
38I struck them down, and they could not get up again.
They fell under my feet.
39God, you made me strong in battle.
You made my enemies fall before me.
40You made my enemies turn and run away.
I destroyed those who hated me.
41They cried out for help,
but there was no one to save them.
They cried out to the Lord,
but he did not answer them.
42I beat them to pieces like dust blown by the wind.
I smashed them like mud in the streets.
43You saved me from those who fought against me.
You made me the ruler over nations.
People I never knew now serve me.
44As soon as they heard about me, they were ready to obey.
Those foreigners fall helpless before me!
45They lose all their courage
and come out of their hiding places shaking with fear.
46The Lord lives!
I praise my Rock, the God who saves me.
How great he is!
47He is the God who punishes my enemies for me,
the one who puts people under my control.
48He saves me from my enemies!
You, Lord, help me defeat those who attack me.
You save me from cruel people.
49Lord, that is why I praise you among the nations.
That is why I sing songs of praise to your name.
50The Lord helps his king win battle after battle.
He shows his faithful love to his chosen one,#18:50 his chosen one Literally, “his anointed one.”
to David and his descendants forever.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 18: ERV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International