Psalms 18
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid the seruant of the Lord, which spake unto the Lord the wordes of this song (in the day that the Lord delivered him for the hande of all this enemies, and form the and of saul) and sayd, I will loue thee dearely, O Lord my strength.
For 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 love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rocke, and my fortresse, and he that deliuereth me, my God and my strength: in him will I trust, my shield, the horne also of my saluation, and my refuge.
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strong rock, in him will I trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
3 I will call vpon the Lord, which is worthie to be praysed: so shall I be safe from mine enemies.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 The sorowes of death compassed me, and the floods of wickednes made me afraide.
The cords of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The cords of Sheol were round about me: the snares of death came on me. (Sheol h7585)
6 But in my trouble did I call vpon the Lord, and cryed vnto my God: he heard my voyce out of his Temple, and my crye did come before him, euen into his eares.
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry before him came into his ears.
7 Then the earth trembled, and quaked: the foundations also of the mountaines mooued and shooke, because he was angrie.
Then the earth shook and trembled, me foundations also of the mountains moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 Smoke went out at his nostrels, and a consuming fire out of his mouth: coales were kindled thereat.
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 heauens also and came downe, and darkenes was vnder his feete.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and thick darkness was under his feet.
10 And he rode vpon Cherub and did flie, and he came flying vpon the wings of the winde.
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly, yea, he flew swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkenes his secrete place, and his pauilion round about him, euen darkenesse of waters, and cloudes of the ayre.
He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion round about him; darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 At the brightnes of his presence his clouds passed, haylestones and coles of fire.
At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord also thundred in the heauen, and the Highest gaue his voyce, haylestones and coales of fire.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice; hailstones and coals of fire.
14 Then hee sent out his arrowes and scattred them, and he increased lightnings and destroyed them.
And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.
15 And the chanels of waters were seene, and the foundations of the worlde were discouered at thy rebuking, O Lord, at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels.
Then the channels of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare, at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16 He hath sent downe from aboue and taken mee: hee hath drawen mee out of many waters.
He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.
17 He hath deliuered mee from my strong enemie, and from them which hate me: for they were too strong for me.
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18 They preuented me in the day of my calamitie: but the Lord was my stay.
They came upon me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19 Hee brought mee foorth also into a large place: hee deliuered mee because hee fauoured me.
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 righteousnes: according to the purenes of mine hands he recompensed me:
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21 Because I kept the wayes of the Lord, and did not wickedly against my God.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his Lawes were before mee, and I did not cast away his commandements from mee.
For all his judgments were before me, and I put not away his statutes from me.
23 I was vpright also with him, and haue kept me from my wickednes.
I was also perfect with him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24 Therefore the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousnesse, and according to the purenes of mine hands in his sight.
Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25 With the godly thou wilt shewe thy selfe godly: with the vpright man thou wilt shew thy selfe vpright.
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with the perfect man thou wilt shew thyself perfect;
26 With the pure thou wilt shewe thy selfe pure, and with the froward thou wilt shewe thy selfe froward.
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the perverse thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27 Thus thou wilt saue the poore people, and wilt cast downe the proude lookes.
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down.
28 Surely thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God wil lighten my darkenes.
For thou wilt light my lamp: the LORD my God will lighten my darkness.
29 For by thee I haue broken through an hoste, and by my God I haue leaped ouer a wall.
For by thee I run upon a troop; and by my God do I leap over a wall.
30 The way of God is vncorrupt: the worde of the Lord is tried in the fire: he is a shield to all that trust in him.
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried; he is a shield unto all them that trust in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord? and who is mightie saue our God?
For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, beside our God?
32 God girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way vpright.
The God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feete like hindes feete, and setteth me vpon mine high places.
He maketh my feet like hinds’ [feet]: and setteth me upon my high places,
34 He teacheth mine hands to fight: so that a bowe of brasse is broken with mine armes.
He teacheth my hands to war; so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.
35 Thou hast also giuen me the shield of thy saluation, and thy right hand hath stayed me, and thy louing kindenes hath caused me to increase.
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 vnder mee, and mine heeles haue not slid.
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped.
37 I haue pursued mine enemies, and taken them, and haue not turned againe till I had consumed them.
I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them: neither will I turn again till they are consumed.
38 I haue wounded them, that they were not able to rise: they are fallen vnder my feete.
I will smite them through that they shall not be able to rise: they shall fall under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength to battell: them, that rose against me, thou hast subdued vnder me.
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 And thou hast giuen me the neckes of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, that I might cut off them that hate me.
41 They cryed but there was none to saue them, euen vnto the Lord, but hee answered them not.
They cried, but there was none to save: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42 Then I did beate them small as the dust before the winde: I did treade them flat as the clay in the streetes.
Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.
43 Thou hast deliuered me from the contentions of the people: thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people, whom I haue not knowen, shall serue me.
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; thou hast made me the head of the nations: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soone as they heare, they shall obey me: the strangers shall be in subiection to me.
As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 Strangers shall shrinke away, and feare in their priuie chambers.
The strangers shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their close places.
46 Let the Lord liue, and blessed be my strength, and the God of my saluation be exalted.
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation:
47 It is God that giueth me power to auenge me, and subdueth the people vnder me.
Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, and subdueth peoples under me.
48 O my deliuerer from mine enemies, euen thou hast set mee vp from them, that rose against me: thou hast deliuered mee from the cruell man.
He rescueth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me: thou deliverest me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will prayse thee, O Lord, among the nations, and wil sing vnto thy Name.
Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the nations, and will sing praises unto thy name.
50 Great deliuerances giueth hee vnto his King, and sheweth mercie to his anoynted, euen to Dauid, and to his seede for euer.
Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth lovingkindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore.
