[[Psalm 17|<< Psalm 17]] | [[Psalms|Psalms]] | [[Psalm 19|Psalm 19 >>]] ### Psalm 18 > To the chief Musician, _A_ _Psalm_ of David, the servant of the LORD, who spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day _that_ the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, 1 I WILL love thee, O LORD, my strength. ^1 2 The LORD _is_ my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, _and_ my high tower. ^2 3 I will call upon the LORD, _who_ _is_ _worthy_ to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. ^3 4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. ^4 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. ^5 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, _even_ into his ears. ^6 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. ^7 8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. ^8 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness _was_ under his feet. ^9 10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. ^10 11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him _were_ dark waters _and_ thick clouds of the skies. ^11 12 At the brightness _that_ _was_ before him his thick clouds passed, hail _stones_ and coals of fire. ^12 13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail _stones_ and coals of fire. ^13 14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. ^14 15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. ^15 16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. ^16 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. ^17 18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. ^18 19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. ^19 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me. ^20 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. ^21 22 For all his judgments _were_ before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. ^22 23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. ^23 24 Therefore has the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. ^24 25 With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt show thyself upright; ^25 26 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. ^26 27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. ^27 28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. ^28 29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. ^29 30 _As_ _for_ God, his way _is_ perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he _is_ a buckler to all those that trust in him. ^30 31 For who _is_ God save the LORD? or who _is_ a rock save our God? ^31 32 _It_ _is_ God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect. ^32 33 He makes my feet like hinds' _feet_, and sets me upon my high places. ^33 34 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. ^34 35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand has holden me up, and thy gentleness has made me great. ^35 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. ^36 37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. ^37 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. ^38 39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. ^39 40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. ^40 41 They cried, but _there_ _was_ none to save _them:_ _even_ unto the LORD, but he answered them not. ^41 42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. ^42 43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; _and_ thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people _whom_ I have not known shall serve me. ^43 44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. ^44 45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. ^45 46 The LORD lives; and blessed _be_ my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. ^46 47 _It_ _is_ God that avenges me, and subdues the people under me. ^47 48 He delivers me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. ^48 49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. ^49 50 Great deliverance gives he to his king; and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore. ^50