Psalm 18:1-50 ICB

[1] I love you, Lord. You are my strength. [2] The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my high tower. [3] I will call to the Lord. He is worthy of praise. And I will be saved from my enemies. [4] The ropes of death bound me. The deadly rivers overwhelmed me. [5] The ropes of death wrapped around me. The traps of death were before me. [6] In my trouble I called to the Lord. I cried out to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice. My call for help reached his ears. [7] The earth trembled and shook. The foundations of the mountains began to shake. They shook because the Lord was angry. [8] Smoke came out of his nose. Burning fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals went before him. [9] He tore open the sky and came down. Dark clouds were under his feet. [10] He rode a creature with wings and flew. He flew on the wings of the wind. [11] He made darkness his covering, his shelter around him, surrounded by fog and clouds. [12] Out of the brightness of his presence came clouds. They came with hail and lightning. [13] The Lord thundered from heaven. God Most High raised his voice. And there was hail and lightning. [14] He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies. His many bolts of lightning confused them with fear. [15] Lord, you spoke strongly. The wind blew from your nose. The valleys of the sea appeared. The foundations of the earth were seen. [16] The Lord reached down from above and took me. He pulled me from the deep water. [17] He saved me from my powerful enemies. Those who hated me were too strong for me. [18] They attacked me at my time of trouble. But the Lord supported me. [19] He took me to a safe place. Because he delights in me, he saved me. [20] The Lord spared me because I did what was right. Because I have not done evil, he has rewarded me. [21] I have followed the ways of the Lord. I have not done evil by turning away from my God. [22] I remember all his laws. I have not broken his rules. [23] I am innocent before him. I have kept myself from doing evil. [24] The Lord rewarded me because I did what was right. I did what the Lord said was right. [25] Lord, you are loyal to those who are loyal. You are good to those who are good. [26] You are pure to those who are pure. But you are against those who are bad. [27] You save those who are not proud. But you make humble those who are proud. [28] Lord, you give light to my lamp. My God brightens the darkness around me. [29] With your help I can attack an army. With God's help I can jump over a wall. [30] The ways of God are without fault. The Lord's words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him. [31] Who is God? Only the Lord. Who is the Rock? Only our God. [32] God is my protection. He makes my way free from fault. [33] He makes me like a deer, which does not stumble. He helps me stand on the steep mountains. [34] He trains my hands for battle. So my arms can bend a bronze bow. [35] You protect me with your saving shield. You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great. [36] You give me a wide path on which to walk. My feet have not slipped. [37] I chased my enemies and caught them. I did not quit till they were destroyed. [38] I crushed them so they couldn't rise up again. They fell beneath my feet. [39] You gave me strength in battle. You made my enemies bow before me. [40] You made my enemies turn back. I destroyed those who hated me. [41] They called for help, but no one came to save them. They called to the Lord, but he did not answer them. [42] I beat my enemies into pieces. They were like dust in the wind. I poured them out like mud in the streets. [43] You saved me when the people attacked me. You made me the leader of nations. People I never knew serve me. [44] As soon as they hear me, they obey me. Foreigners obey me. [45] They all become afraid. They tremble in their hiding places. [46] The Lord lives! May my Rock be praised. Praise the God who saves me! [47] God gives me victory over my enemies. He brings people under my rule. [48] He saves me from my enemies. You set me over those who hate me. You saved me from cruel men. [49] So I will praise you, Lord, among the nations. I will sing praises to your name. [50] The Lord gives great victories to his king. He is loyal to his appointed king, to David and his descendants forever.