Psalm 18:1-50 VOICE

[1] I love You, Eternal One, source of my power. [2] The Eternal is my rock, my fortress, and my salvation; He is my True God, the stronghold in which I hide, my strong shield, the horn that calls forth help, and my tall-walled tower. [3] I call out to the Eternal, who is worthy to be praised- that's how I will be rescued from my enemies. [4] The bonds of death encircled me; the currents of destruction tugged at me; [5] The sorrows of the grave wrap around me; the traps of death lay in wait for me. [6] In my time of need, I called to the Eternal; I begged my True God for help. He heard my voice echo up to His temple, and my cry came to His ears. [7] Because of His great anger, the earth shook and staggered; the roots of the mountains shifted. [8] Smoke poured out from His nose, and devouring fire burst from His mouth. Coals glowed from Him. [9] He bent the heavens and descended; inky darkness was beneath His feet. [10] He rode upon a heavenly creature, flying; He was carried quickly on the wings of the wind. [11] He took darkness as His hiding place- both the dark waters of the seas and the dark clouds of the sky. [12] Out from His brilliance hailstones and burning coals broke through the clouds. [13] The Eternal thundered in the heavens; the Highest spoke; His voice rumbled [in the midst of hail and lightning]. [14] He shot forth His arrows and scattered the wicked; He flung forth His lightning and struck them. [15] Then the deepest channels of the seas were visible, and the very foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O Eternal One, at the blast of wind from Your nostrils. [16] He reached down His hand from above me; He held me. He lifted me from the raging waters. [17] He rescued me from my strongest enemy, from all those who sought my death, for they were too strong. [18] They came for me in the day of my destruction, but the Eternal was the support of my life. [19] He set me down in a safe place; He saved me to His delight; He took joy in me. [20] The Eternal One responded to me according to my goodness; I kept my hands clean, and He blessed me. [21] I kept the ways of the Eternal and have not walked away from my True God in wickedness. [22] All His laws were there before me, and I did not push His statutes away. [23] I was blameless before Him; I kept myself from guilt and shame. [24] That's why the Eternal has rewarded me for my right living; He's rewarded me because He saw my hands were clean. [25] You are loyal to those who are loyal; with the innocent, You prove to be innocent; [26] With the clean, You prove to be clean; and with the twisted, You make Yourself contrary. [27] For You rescue humble people, but You bring the proud back in line. [28] You are the lamp who lights my way; the Eternal, my God, lights up my darkness. [29] With Your help, I can conquer an army; I can leap over walls with a helping hand from You. [30] Everything God does is perfect; the promise of the Eternal rings true; He stands as a shield for all who hide in Him. [31] Who is the True God except the Eternal? Who stands like a rock except our God? [32] The True God who encircled me with strength and made my pathway straight. [33] He made me sure-footed as a deer and placed me high up where I am safe. [34] He teaches me to fight so that my arms can bend a bronze bow. [35] You have shielded me with Your salvation, supporting me with Your strong right hand, and it makes me strong. [36] You taught me how to walk with care so my feet will not slip. [37] I chased my enemies and caught them and did not stop until they were destroyed. [38] I broke them and threw them down beneath my feet, and they could not rise up again. [39] For You equipped me for battle, and You made my enemies fall beneath me. [40] You made my enemies turn tail and run, and all who wanted my destruction, I destroyed. [41] They looked everywhere, but no one came to rescue them; they asked the Eternal, but He did not answer them. [42] I beat them to sand, to dust that blows in the wind; I flung them away like trash in the gutters. [43] You rescued me from conflict with the peoples; You raised me up to rule over nations. People who did not know me have come to serve me. [44] Strangers come to me, afraid. As soon as they hear about me, they serve me; [45] Strangers who have lost heart come fearfully to me from behind their high walls. [46] The Eternal is alive! My Rock is blessed, and exalted is the True God of my deliverance- [47] The God who avenged me and placed the peoples under me, [48] Who rescued me from all my foes. Truly, You raised me up above my enemies and saved me from the violent ones. [49] For this I will praise You among the nations, O Eternal, and sing praises to Your name. [50] He is a tower of salvation for His king and shows His enduring love to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.