Psalm 18:1-50 RSV

[1] I love thee, O LORD, my strength. [2] The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. [3] I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. [4] The cords of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me; [5] the cords of Sheol entangled me, the snares of death confronted me. [6] In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. [7] Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. [8] Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. [9] He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. [10] He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind. [11] He made darkness his covering around him, his canopy thick clouds dark with water. [12] Out of the brightness before him there broke through his clouds hailstones and coals of fire. [13] The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. [14] And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them. [15] Then the channels of the sea were seen, 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 reached from on high, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. [17] He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. [18] They came upon me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my stay. [19] He brought me forth 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 recompensed me. [21] For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. [22] For all his ordinances were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. [23] I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. [24] Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. [25] With the loyal thou dost show thyself loyal; with the blameless man thou dost show thyself blameless; [26] with the pure thou dost show thyself pure; and with the crooked thou dost show thyself perverse. [27] For thou dost deliver a humble people; but the haughty eyes thou dost bring down. [28] Yea, thou dost light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. [29] Yea, by thee I can crush a troop; and by my God I can leap over a wall. [30] This God-his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. [31] For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?- [32] the God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe. [33] He made my feet like hinds' feet, and set me secure on the heights. [34] He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. [35] Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, and thy right hand supported me, and thy help made me great. [36] Thou didst give a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. [37] I pursued my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back till they were consumed. [38] I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. [39] For thou didst gird me with strength for the battle; thou didst make my assailants sink under me. [40] Thou didst make my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed. [41] They cried for help, but there was none to save, they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them. [42] I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets. [43] Thou didst deliver me from strife with the peoples; thou didst make me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. [44] As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me. [45] Foreigners lost heart, and came trembling out of their fastnesses. [46] The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation, [47] the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me; [48] who delivered me from my enemies; yea, thou didst exalt me above my adversaries; thou didst deliver me from men of violence. [49] For this I will extol thee, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to thy name. [50] Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.