NET Bible

Psalm 18

^18:1 He said: “I love you, Lord, my source of strength! ^18:2 The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge. ^18:3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies. ^18:4 The waves of death engulfed me, the currents of chaos overwhelmed me. ^18:5 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me. ^18:6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help. ^18:7 The earth heaved and shook. The roots of the mountains trembled; they heaved because he was angry. ^18:8 Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth. He hurled down fiery coals. ^18:9 He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet. ^18:10 He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind. ^18:11 He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds. ^18:12 From the brightness in front of him came hail and fiery coals. ^18:13 The Lord thundered in the sky; the Most High shouted. ^18:14 He shot his arrows and scattered them, many lightning bolts and routed them. ^18:15 The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by your battle cry, Lord, by the powerful breath from your nose. ^18:16 He reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me from the surging water. ^18:17 He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me. ^18:18 They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me. ^18:19 He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me. ^18:20 The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior. ^18:21 For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands; I have not rebelled against my God. ^18:22 For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules. ^18:23 I was innocent before him, and kept myself from sinning. ^18:24 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior. ^18:25 You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent. ^18:26 You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse. ^18:27 For you deliver oppressed people, but you bring down those who have a proud look. ^18:28 Indeed, you light my lamp, Lord. My God illuminates the darkness around me. ^18:29 Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my God’s power I can jump over a wall. ^18:30 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord’s promise is reliable. He is a shield to all who take shelter in him. ^18:31 Indeed, who is God besides the Lord? Who is a protector besides our God? ^18:32 The one true God gives me strength; he removes the obstacles in my way. ^18:33 He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. ^18:34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow. ^18:35 You give me your protective shield; your right hand supports me. Your willingness to help enables me to prevail. ^18:36 You widen my path; my feet do not slip. ^18:37 I chase my enemies and catch them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out. ^18:38 I beat them to death; they fall at my feet. ^18:39 You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me. ^18:40 You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me. ^18:41 They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them. ^18:42 I grind them as fine windblown dust; I beat them underfoot like clay in the streets. ^18:43 You rescue me from a hostile army. You make me a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects. ^18:44 When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me. ^18:45 Foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds. ^18:46 The Lord is alive! My Protector is praiseworthy. The God who delivers me is exalted as king. ^18:47 The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me. ^18:48 He delivers me from my enemies. You snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men. ^18:49 So I will give you thanks before the nations, O Lord. I will sing praises to you. ^18:50 He gives his king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and his descendants forever.”

^18:50 For the music director, a psalm of David.