Ps-18
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v1
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
v2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
v3
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
v4
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me;
v5
the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
v6
In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
v7
Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.
v8
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.
v9
He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
v10
He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
v11
He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.
v12
Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
v13
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.
v14
And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
v15
Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
v16
He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.
v17
He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
v18
They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.
v19
He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
v20
The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
v21
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
v22
For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.
v23
I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.
v24
So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
v25
With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
v26
with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
v27
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.
v28
For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
v29
For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
v30
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
v31
For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?—
v32
the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.
v33
He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.
v34
He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
v35
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.
v36
You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.
v37
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed.
v38
I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.
v39
For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me.
v40
You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed.
v41
They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
v42
I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
v43
You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.
v44
As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me.
v45
Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.
v46
The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—
v47
the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me,
v48
who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence.
v49
For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name.
v50
Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.