Psalm 18

1I love you, Yahweh, my strength. 2my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; 3and I am saved from my enemies. I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; 4The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The cords of death surrounded me. 5The snares of death came on me. The cords of Sheol * were around me. 6and cried to my God. My cry before him came into his ears. In my distress I called on Yahweh, He heard my voice out of his temple. 7The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. Then the earth shook and trembled. 8Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. Smoke went out of his nostrils. 9Thick darkness was under his feet. He bowed the heavens also, and came down. 10Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind. He rode on a cherub, and flew. 11darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, 12hailstones and coals of fire. At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, 13The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire. Yahweh also thundered in the sky. 14Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them. He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; 15The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. Then the channels of waters appeared. 16He took me. He drew me out of many waters. He sent from on high. 17from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. He delivered me from my strong enemy, 18but Yahweh was my support. They came on me in the day of my calamity, 19He delivered me, because he delighted in me. He brought me out also into a large place. 20According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me. Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. 21and have not wickedly departed from my God. For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, 22I didn’t put away his statutes from me. For all his ordinances were before me. 23I kept myself from my iniquity. I was also blameless with him. 24according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, 25With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. 26With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. With the pure, you will show yourself pure. 27but the haughty eyes you will bring down. For you will save the afflicted people, 28My God will light up my darkness. For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. 29By my God, I leap over a wall. For by you, I advance through a troop. 30Yahweh’s word is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. As for God, his way is perfect. 31Who is a rock, besides our God, For who is God, except Yahweh? 32the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect? 33and sets me on my high places. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, 34so that my arms bend a bow of bronze. He teaches my hands to war, 35Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great. You have also given me the shield of your salvation. 36My feet have not slipped. You have enlarged my steps under me, 37Neither will I turn again until they are consumed. I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. 38They shall fall under my feet. I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. 39You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. For you have armed me with strength to the battle. 40that I might cut off those who hate me. You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, 41even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them. They cried, but there was no one to save; 42I cast them out as the mire of the streets. Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. 43You have made me the head of the nations. You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. 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. 45and shall come trembling out of their close places. The foreigners shall fade away, 46Exalted be the God of my salvation, Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. 47and subdues peoples under me. even the God who executes vengeance for me, 48Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. He rescues me from my enemies. 49and will sing praises to your name. Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, 50and shows loving kindness to his anointed, * forever more. He gives great deliverance to his king,