Psalms 18
Open Word Bible
He said: “I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my cliff, my stronghold, the one who sets me free; my God is my rock, and I shelter in him. He is my shield, my strong salvation, my tower on the heights. I call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and from my enemies I am rescued. Death’s ropes were wrapped around me; floods of ruin overwhelmed me with terror. The ropes of Sheol coiled around me; death’s traps lay right in front of me. When I was hard pressed I called on the LORD and cried out to my God. Out of his temple he listened to my voice; my cry came before him and reached his ears. Then the earth shuddered and rocked; the roots of the mountains trembled and were shaken, because he was furious. Smoke rose from his nostrils, and fire that consumes came from his mouth; burning coals flamed out of it. He bowed the heavens low and came down; storm clouds were dark beneath his feet. Riding on a cherub, he flew; he swooped down on the wings of the wind. He wrapped himself in darkness and hid in it; all around him was a tent of dark rain clouds, thick clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness in front of him his clouds broke through, with hail and burning coals. The LORD thundered in the heavens; the Most High raised his voice, with hail and burning coals. He let his arrows fly and scattered the enemy; he hurled lightning bolts and threw them into confusion. The beds of the sea came into view, and the world’s foundations lay bare at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. From on high he stretched out his hand and seized me; he pulled me out of deep waters. He snatched me away from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me, because they were stronger than I was. They came at me on my day of disaster, but the LORD held me up. He led me out into open country; he set me free, because he was pleased with me. The LORD treated me as my right conduct deserved; he rewarded me because my hands were clean. For I have walked in the LORD’s ways and have not turned from my God to do evil. All his rulings have been in front of me; I have not pushed his laws aside. I was whole-hearted with him; I guarded myself from sin. So the LORD rewarded me for doing right, for the clean hands he could see. To the faithful you are faithful; to those of integrity you show integrity. To the pure you prove yourself pure, but with the crooked you are subtle. You rescue people who are humbled, but proud eyes you bring down. You make my lamp shine; the LORD my God brightens my darkness. With you I can rush an armed band; by the strength of my God I can vault a wall. This is God: his way is without flaw; the word of the LORD is tested and true; he is a shield for all who make him their refuge. Is there any God but the LORD? Is there any rock but our God? the God who straps strength around me like a belt and makes my way secure, who makes my feet as sure as a deer’s and sets me firm on the heights, who trains my hands for war, so that my arms can draw a bronze bow. You have handed me your saving shield; your right hand holds me up, and your stooping down to me has made me great. You make room for my steps, so my ankles do not turn. I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not give up the chase until I had made an end of them. I shattered them, and they could not stand again; they lay fallen at my feet. You strapped strength on me for the fight; you brought my attackers to their knees beneath me. You put my enemies to flight before me, and I destroyed those who hated me. They called for help, but no one came to save them; they cried to the LORD, but he gave them no answer. I ground them as fine as dust blown by the wind; I threw them out like mud in the streets. You set me free from the people’s quarrels; you put me at the head of the nations. A nation I never knew now serves me. The moment they hear, they obey me; foreigners come to me cringing. Foreigners lose heart; they come out of their fortresses shaking. The LORD is alive! Blessed be my rock! May the God who saves me be lifted high, the God who avenges me and brings nations under my rule, who saves me from my enemies. You raise me high above my attackers; you save me from the violent man. That is why I will give you thanks among the nations, LORD, and sing praise to your name. Great are the victories he grants his king; he keeps faith in loyal love with his anointed one, with David and his line for all time.”
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