Psalm 18:1-50 GW

[1] I love you, O LORD, my strength. [2] The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold. [3] The LORD should be praised. I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies. [4] The ropes of death had become tangled around me. The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me. [5] The ropes of the grave had surrounded me. The clutches of death had confronted me. [6] I called on the LORD in my distress. I cried to my God for help. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help reached his ears. [7] Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the mountains trembled. They shook violently because he was angry. [8] Smoke went up from his nostrils, and a raging fire came out of his mouth. Glowing coals flared up from it. [9] He spread apart the heavens and came down with a dark cloud under his feet. [10] He rode on one of the angels as he flew, and he soared on the wings of the wind. [11] He made the darkness his hiding place, the dark rain clouds his covering. [12] Out of the brightness in front of him, those rain clouds passed by with hailstones and lightning. [13] The LORD thundered in the heavens. The Most High made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning. [14] He shot his arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion. [15] Then the ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at your stern warning, O LORD, at the blast of the breath from your nostrils. [16] He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water. [17] He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me. [18] On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me, but the LORD came to my defense. [19] He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me. [20] The LORD rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back [21] because I have kept the ways of the LORD and I have not wickedly turned away from my God, [22] because all his judgments are in front of me and I have not turned away from his laws. [23] I was innocent as far as he was concerned. I have kept myself from guilt. [24] The LORD paid me back because of my righteousness, because he can see that my hands are clean. [25] In dealing with faithful people you are faithful, with innocent people you are innocent, [26] with pure people you are pure. In dealing with devious people you are clever. [27] You save humble people, but you bring down a conceited look. [28] O LORD, you light my lamp. My God turns my darkness into light. [29] With you I can attack a line of soldiers. With my God I can break through barricades. [30] God's way is perfect! The promise of the LORD has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. [31] Who is God but the LORD? Who is a rock except our God? [32] God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. [33] He makes my feet like those of a deer and gives me sure footing on high places. [34] He trains my hands for battle so that my arms can bend an archer's bow of bronze. [35] You have given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand supports me. Your gentleness makes me great. [36] You make a wide path for me to walk on so that my feet do not slip. [37] I chased my enemies and caught up with them. I did not return until I had ended their lives. [38] I wounded them so badly that they were unable to get up. They fell under my feet. [39] You armed me with strength for battle. You made my opponents bow at my feet. [40] You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and I destroyed those who hated me. [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. [42] I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust blown by the wind. I threw them out as though they were dirt on the streets. [43] You rescued me from my conflicts with the people. You made me the leader of nations. A people I did not know will serve me: [44] As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. Foreigners will cringe in front of me. [45] Foreigners will lose heart, and they will tremble when they come out of their fortifications. [46] The LORD lives! Thanks be to my rock! May God my Savior be honored. [47] God gives me vengeance! He brings people under my authority. [48] He saves me from my enemies. You lift me up above my opponents. You rescue me from violent people. [49] That is why I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations and make music to praise your name. [50] He gives great victories to his king. He shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendant forever.