18:1 To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David, the servant of
the LORD, who spoke to 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.
18:2 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.
18:3 I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be praised:
so shall I be saved from my enemies.
18:4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of
ungodly men made me afraid.
18:5 The sorrows of hell encompassed me: the snares of death
seized me.
18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God:
he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before
him, [even] into his ears.
18:7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of
the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
18:8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of
his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
18:9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness
[was] under his feet.
18:10 And he rode upon a cherub, and flew; yes, he flew upon the
wings of the wind.
18:11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion around him
[were] dark waters [and] thick clouds of the skies.
18:12 At the brightness [that was] before him his thick clouds
passed, hail [stones] and coals of fire.
18:13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest
gave his voice; hail [stones] and coals of fire.
18:14 Yes, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he
shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
18:15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations
of the world were uncovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast
of the breath of thy nostrils.
18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many
waters.
18:17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them who
hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18:18 They attacked me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD
was my stay.
18:19 He brought me forth also in a large place; he delivered
me, because he delighted in me.
18:20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
18:21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not
wickedly departed from my God.
18:22 For all his judgments [were] before me, and I did not put
away his statutes from me.
18:23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from my
iniquity.
18:24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my
righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his
sight.
18:25 With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an
upright man thou wilt show thyself upright;
18:26 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the
froward thou wilt contend.
18:27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring
down high looks.
18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will
enlighten my darkness.
18:29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have
I leaped over a wall.
18:30 [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.
18:31 For who [is] God save the LORD? or who [is] a rock save
our God?
18:32 [It is] God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my
way perfect.
18:33 He maketh my feet like hinds' [feet], and setteth me upon
my high places.
18:34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is
broken by my arms.
18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and
thy right hand hath held me up and thy gentleness hath made me
great.
18:36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not
slip.
18:37 I have pursued my enemies, and overtaken them: neither did
I turn again till they were consumed.
18:38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they
have fallen under my feet.
18:39 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: thou hast
subdued under me those that rose up against me.
18:40 Thou hast also given me the necks of my enemies; that I
might destroy them that hate me.
18:41 They cried, but [there was] none to save [them]: [even] to
the LORD, but he answered them not.
18:42 Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I cast
them out as the dirt in the streets.
18:43 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.
18:44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the
strangers shall submit themselves to me.
18:45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid from their
close places.
18:46 The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and let the God
of my salvation be exalted.
18:47 [It is] God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people
under me.
18:48 He delivereth me from my enemies: yes, thou liftest me up
above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me
from the violent man.
18:49 Therefore will I give thanks to thee, O LORD, among the
heathen, and sing praises to thy name.
18:50 He giveth great deliverance to his king; and showeth mercy
to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for ever.
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