18:1 For the music director; by the LORD's servant David, who sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. 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 sovereign One 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 are 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.
18:39 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 chosen king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and his descendants forever."
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