Psalms 18
David's psalm of thanksgiving for God's mighty deliverances and manifold blessings.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake 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.
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.
3. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
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.
7. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
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.
16. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
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.
31. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37. I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
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.
44. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake 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, I WILL love thee, O LORD, my strength. 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. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 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. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 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. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. 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. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 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. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
NKJV
1. I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
4.
The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5.
The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6.
In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
7.
Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8.
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10.
And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11.
He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12.
From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
13.
The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14.
He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15.
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16.
He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
19.
He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.
20.
The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
21.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22.
For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23.
I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24.
Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
25.
With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26.
With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27.
For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.
28.
For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29.
For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30.
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
31.
For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32.
It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33.
He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
34.
He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35.
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36.
You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.
37.
I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38.
I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
39.
For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40.
You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41.
They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
42.
Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.
43.
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
44.
As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners submit to me.
45.
The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.
46.
The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47.
It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
48.
He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49.
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.
50.
Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore.
I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.
The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.
For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.
I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners submit to me.
The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.
The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.
Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore.
Metrical version
Psalm 18
C.M. St. Magnus
Thee will I love, O LORD, my strength. My fortress is the LORD, My rock, and he that doth to me deliverance afford: My God, my strength, whom I will trust, a buckler unto me, The horn of my salvation, and my high tow'r, is he. Upon the LORD, who worthy is of praises, will I cry; And then shall I preserved be safe from mine enemy. Floods of ill men affrighted me, death's pangs about me went; Hell's sorrows me environed; death's snares did me prevent. In my distress I called on God, cry to my God did I; He from his temple heard my voice, to his ears came my cry. Th' earth, as affrighted, then did shake, trembling upon it seized: The hills' foundations moved were, because he was displeased. Up from his nostrils came a smoke, and from his mouth there came Devouring fire, and coals by it were turned into flame. He also bowed down the heav'ns, and thence he did descend; And thickest clouds of darkness did under his feet attend. And he upon a cherub rode, and thereon he did fly; Yea, on the swift wings of the wind his flight was from on high. He darkness made his secret place: about him, for his tent, Dark waters were, and thickest clouds of th' airy firmament. And at the brightness of that light, which was before his eye, His thick clouds passed away, hailstones and coals of fire did fly. The LORD God also in the heav'ns did thunder in his ire; And there the Highest gave his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. Yea, he his arrows sent abroad, and them he scattered; His lightnings also he shot out, and them discomfited. The waters' channels then were seen, the world's foundations vast At thy rebuke discovered were, and at thy nostrils' blast. And from above the Lord sent down, and took me from below; From many waters he me drew, which would me overflow. He me relieved from my strong foes, and such as did me hate; Because he saw that they for me too strong were, and too great. They me prevented in the day of my calamity; But even then the LORD himself a stay was unto me. He to a place where liberty and room was hath me brought; Because he took delight in me, he my deliv'rance wrought. According to my righteousness he did me recompense, He me repaid according to my hands' pure innocence. For I GOD's ways kept, from my God did not turn wickedly. His judgments were before me, I his laws put not from me. Sincere before him was my heart; with him upright was I; And watchfully I kept myself from mine iniquity. After my righteousness the LORD hath recompensed me, After the cleanness of my hands appearing in his eye. Thou gracious to the gracious art, to upright men upright: Pure to the pure, froward thou kyth'st unto the froward wight. For thou wilt the afflicted save in grief that low do lie: But wilt bring down the countenance of them whose looks are high. The LORD will light my candle so, that it shall shine full bright: The LORD my God will also make my darkness to be light. By thee through troops of men I break, and them discomfit all; And, by my God assisting me, I overleap a wall. As for God, perfect is his way: the LORD his word is tried; He is a buckler to all those who do in him confide. Who but the LORD is God? but he who is a rock and stay? 'Tis God that girdeth me with strength, and perfect makes my way. He made my feet swift as the hinds, set me on my high places. Mine hands to war he taught, mine arms brake bows of steel in pieces. The shield of thy salvation thou didst on me bestow: Thy right hand held me up, and great thy kindness made me grow. And in my way my steps thou hast enlarged under me, That I go safely, and my feet are kept from sliding free. Mine en'mies I pursued have, and did them overtake; Nor did I turn again till I an end of them did make. I wounded them, they could not rise; they at my feet did fall. Thou girdest me with strength for war; my foes thou brought'st down all: And thou hast giv'n to me the necks of all mine enemies; That I might them destroy and slay, who did against me rise. They cried out, but there was none that would or could them save; Yea, they did cry unto the LORD, but he no answer gave. Then did I beat them small as dust before the wind that flies; And I did cast them out like dirt upon the street that lies. Thou mad'st me free from people's strife, and heathen's head to be: A people whom I have not known shall service do to me. At hearing they shall me obey, to me they shall submit. Strangers for fear shall fade away, who in close places sit. GOD lives, bless'd be my Rock; the God of my health praised be. God doth avenge me, and subdues the people under me. He saves me from mine enemies; yea, thou hast lifted me Above my foes; and from the man of vi'lence set me free. Therefore to thee will I give thanks the heathen folk among; And to thy name, O LORD, I will sing praises in a song. He great deliv'rance gives his king: he mercy doth extend To David, his anointed one, and his seed without end.
In this psalm of thanksgiving for manifold deliverances, observe, (1.) David's ardent love to God in Christ, whom he believed to be his own, in every gracious and saving relation; and whom he had experienced his merciful, almighty, and seasonable deliverer, from depths of trouble, ver. 1-19. (2.) His comfortable reflections, on the integrity which the Lord had enabled him to maintain, and on the gracious kindness of God, consequential thereupon, ver. 20-28. (3.) His thankful ascription of all the glory of his noted exploits to God, as his director and strengthener, ver. 29-42. (4.) His triumphant faith and hope, of further assistance and favour from God, to himself and to his seed for evermore, ver. 43-50.
But let me not forget Jesus, to whom Jehovah is so closely, so marvellously, so sweetly related: Jesus, who so ardently loveth his eternal Father, and for ever returns the grateful remembrance of his kindness to him, and to his chosen seed, in delivering him from distress; in raising him from the dead; in rewarding his obedience unto death, in giving him glory at his own right hand, and in rendering all nations his obedient subjects. Let me sing this new song, in the full assurance of faith, that God in Christ is my all and in all; and with a heart ravished with the consolations of Christ, and in the sweet reviews of what he hath done, what he doth, and what he will for ever do, for my soul.