Psalm 18:1-50 CEV

[1] I love you, LORD God, and you make me strong. [2] You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter. [3] I praise you, LORD! I prayed, and you rescued me from my enemies. [4] Death had wrapped its ropes around me, and I was almost swallowed by its flooding waters. [5] Ropes from the world of the dead had coiled around me, and death had set a trap in my path. [6] I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, but from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer. [7] The earth shook and shivered, and the mountains trembled down to their roots. You were angry [8] and breathed out smoke. Scorching heat and fiery flames spewed from your mouth. [9] You opened the heavens like curtains, and you came down with storm clouds under your feet. [10] You rode on the backs of flying creatures and swooped down with the wind as wings. [11] Darkness was your robe; thunderclouds filled the sky, hiding you from sight. [12] Hailstones and fiery coals lit up the sky in front of you. [13] LORD Most High, your voice thundered from the heavens, as hailstones and fiery coals poured down like rain. [14] You scattered your enemies with arrows of lightning. [15] You roared at the sea, and its deepest channels could be seen. You snorted, and the earth shook to its foundations. [16] You reached down from heaven, and you lifted me from deep in the ocean. [17] You rescued me from enemies, who were hateful and too powerful for me. [18] On the day disaster struck, they came and attacked, but you defended me. [19] When I was fenced in, you freed and rescued me because you love me. [20] You are good to me, LORD, because I do right, and you reward me because I am innocent. [21] I do what you want and never turn to do evil. [22] I keep your laws in mind and never look away from your teachings. [23] I obey you completely and guard against sin. [24] You have been good to me because I do right; you have rewarded me for being innocent by your standards. [25] You are always loyal to your loyal people, and you are faithful to the faithful. [26] With all who are sincere, you are sincere, but you treat the unfaithful as their deeds deserve. [27] You rescue the humble, but you put down all who are proud. [28] You, the LORD God, keep my lamp burning and turn darkness to light. [29] You help me defeat armies and capture cities. [30] Your way is perfect, LORD, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help. [31] You alone are God! Only you are a mighty rock. [32] You give me strength and guide me right. [33] You make my feet run as fast as those of a deer, and you help me stand on the mountains. [34] You teach my hands to fight and my arms to use a bow of bronze. [35] You alone are my shield. Your right hand supports me, and by coming to help me, you have made me famous. [36] You clear the way for me, and now I won't stumble. [37] I kept chasing my enemies, until I caught them and destroyed them. [38] I stuck my sword through my enemies, and they were crushed under my feet. [39] You helped me win victories, and you forced my attackers to fall victim to me. [40] You made my enemies run, and I killed them. [41] They cried out for help, but no one saved them; they called out to you, but there was no answer. [42] I ground them to dust blown by the wind, and I poured them out like mud in the streets. [43] You rescued me from stubborn people, and you made me the leader of foreign nations, who are now my slaves. [44] They obey and come crawling. [45] They have lost all courage, and from their fortresses, they come trembling. [46] You are the living LORD! I will praise you. You are a mighty rock. I will honor you for keeping me safe. [47] You took revenge for me, and you put nations in my power. [48] You protected me from violent enemies and made me much greater than all of them. [49] I will praise you, LORD, and I will honor you among the nations. [50] You give glorious victories to your chosen king. Your faithful love for David and for his descendants will never end.