18:1 To the director: A song of David, the Lord’s servant. He sang this song to the Lord when the Lord saved him from Saul and all his other enemies. I love you, Lord! You are my strength.
18:2 The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, my place of safety. He is my God, the Rock I run to for protection. He is my shield; by his power I am saved. He is my hiding place high in the hills.
18:3 I called to the Lord for help, and he saved me from my enemies! He is worthy of my praise!
18:4 Death had its ropes wrapped around me. A deadly flood was carrying me away.
18:5 The ropes of the grave wrapped around me. Death set its trap right there in front of me.
18:6 In my trouble I called to the Lord. Yes, I cried out to my God for help. There in his temple he heard my voice. He heard my cry for help.
18:7 The earth shook and shivered. The foundations of the mountains trembled. They shook because he was angry.
18:8 Smoke came from his nose. Burning flames came from his mouth. Red-hot coals fell from him.
18:9 He tore open the sky and came down! He stood on a thick, dark cloud.
18:10 He flew across the sky, riding on a Cherub angel racing on the wings of the wind.
18:11 He wrapped himself in darkness that covered him like a tent. He was hidden by dark clouds heavy with water.
18:12 Out of the brightness before him, hail broke through the clouds with flashes of lightning.
18:13 The Lord thundered from the sky; God Most High let his voice be heard.
18:14 He scattered his enemies with his arrows— the lightning bolts that threw them into confusion.
18:15 Lord, you shouted your command, and a powerful wind began to blow. Then the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the earth’s foundations were uncovered.
18:16 He reached down from above and grabbed me. He pulled me from the deep water.
18:17 He saved me from my powerful enemies, who hated me. They were too strong for me, so he saved me.
18:18 They attacked me in my time of trouble, but the Lord was there to support me.
18:19 He was pleased with me, so he rescued me. He took me to a safe place.
18:20 The Lord rewarded me for doing what is right. He was good to me because I am innocent.
18:21 The Lord did this because I have obeyed him. I have not turned against my God.
18:22 I always remembered his laws. I never rejected his rules.
18:23 He knows I did nothing that was wrong. I have kept myself from sinning.
18:24 So the Lord rewarded me for doing what is right. He could see that I am innocent.
18:25 Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful. You are good to those who are good.
18:26 You never do wrong to those who have done no wrong. But you outsmart the wicked, no matter how clever they are.
18:27 You help those who are humble, but you humiliate the proud.
18:28 Lord, you provide the flame for my lamp. You, God, turn the darkness around me into light.
18:29 With your help I can defeat an army. If my God is with me, I can climb over enemy walls.
18:30 God’s way is perfect. The Lord’s promise always proves to be true. He protects those who trust in him.
18:31 There is no God except the Lord. There is no Rock except our God.
18:32 God is the one who gives me strength. He clears the path I need to take.
18:33 He makes my feet as steady as those of a deer. Even on steep mountains he keeps me from falling.
18:34 He trains me for war so that my arms can bend the most powerful bow.
18:35 Lord, you have given me your shield to protect me. You support me with your right hand. It is your help that has made me great.
18:36 You cleared a path for my feet so that I could walk without stumbling.
18:37 I chased my enemies and caught them. I did not stop until they were destroyed.
18:38 I struck them down, and they could not get up again. They fell under my feet.
18:39 God, you made me strong in battle. You made my enemies fall before me.
18:40 You made my enemies turn and run away. I destroyed those who hated me.
18:41 They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried out to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
18:42 I beat them to pieces like dust blown by the wind. I smashed them like mud in the streets.
18:43 You saved me from those who fought against me. You made me the ruler over nations. People I never knew now serve me.
18:44 As soon as they heard about me, they were ready to obey. Those foreigners fall helpless before me!
18:45 They lose all their courage and come out of their hiding places shaking with fear.
18:46 The Lord lives! I praise my Rock, the God who saves me. How great he is!
18:47 He is the God who punishes my enemies for me, the one who puts people under my control.
18:48 He saves me from my enemies! You, Lord, help me defeat those who attack me. You save me from cruel people.
18:49 Lord, that is why I praise you among the nations. That is why I sing songs of praise to your name.
18:50 The Lord helps his king win battle after battle. He shows his faithful love to his chosen one, to David and his descendants forever.
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