GodsWord - Psalms - 18

18:1  I love you, O LORD, my strength.

18:2  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold.

18:3  The LORD should be praised. I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.

18:4  The ropes of death had become tangled around me. The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.

18:5  The ropes of the grave had surrounded me. The clutches of death had confronted me.

18:6  I called on the LORD in my distress. I cried to my God for help. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help reached his ears.

18:7  Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the mountains trembled. They shook violently because he was angry.

18:8  Smoke went up from his nostrils, and a raging fire came out of his mouth. Glowing coals flared up from it.

18:9  He spread apart the heavens and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.

18:10  He rode on one of the angels as he flew, and he soared on the wings of the wind.

18:11  He made the darkness his hiding place, the dark rain clouds his covering.

18:12  Out of the brightness in front of him, those rain clouds passed by with hailstones and lightning.

18:13  The LORD thundered in the heavens. The Most High made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning.

18:14  He shot his arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion.

18:15  Then the ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at your stern warning, O LORD, at the blast of the breath from your nostrils.

18:16  He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water.

18:17  He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.

18:18  On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me, but the LORD came to my defense.

18:19  He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me.

18:20  The LORD rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back

18:21  because I have kept the ways of the LORD and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,

18:22  because all his judgments are in front of me and I have not turned away from his laws.

18:23  I was innocent as far as he was concerned. I have kept myself from guilt.

18:24  The LORD paid me back because of my righteousness, because he can see that my hands are clean.

18:25  In dealing with faithful people you are faithful, with innocent people you are innocent,

18:26  with pure people you are pure. In dealing with devious people you are clever.

18:27  You save humble people, but you bring down a conceited look.

18:28  O LORD, you light my lamp. My God turns my darkness into light.

18:29  With you I can attack a line of soldiers. With my God I can break through barricades.

18:30  God's way is perfect! The promise of the LORD has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.

18:31  Who is God but the LORD? Who is a rock except our God?

18:32  God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

18:33  He makes my feet like those of a deer and gives me sure footing on high places.

18:34  He trains my hands for battle so that my arms can bend an archer's bow of bronze.

18:35  You have given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand supports me. Your gentleness makes me great.

18:36  You make a wide path for me to walk on so that my feet do not slip.

18:37  I chased my enemies and caught up with them. I did not return until I had ended their lives.

18:38  I wounded them so badly that they were unable to get up. They fell under my feet.

18:39  You armed me with strength for battle. You made my opponents bow at my feet.

18:40  You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and I destroyed those who hated me.

18:41  They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried out to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

18:42  I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust blown by the wind. I threw them out as though they were dirt on the streets.

18:43  You rescued me from my conflicts with the people. You made me the leader of nations. A people I did not know will serve me:

18:44  As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. Foreigners will cringe in front of me.

18:45  Foreigners will lose heart, and they will tremble when they come out of their fortifications.

18:46  The LORD lives! Thanks be to my rock! May God my Savior be honored.

18:47  God gives me vengeance! He brings people under my authority.

18:48  He saves me from my enemies. You lift me up above my opponents. You rescue me from violent people.

18:49  That is why I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations and make music to praise your name.

18:50  He gives great victories to his king. He shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendant forever.