Psalm 18:1-50 NIrV

[1] I love you, LORD. You give me strength. [2] The LORD is my rock and my place of safety. He is the God who saves me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. He is like a shield to me. He’s the power that saves me. He’s my place of safety. [3] I called out to the LORD. He is worthy of praise. He saved me from my enemies. [4] The ropes of death were almost wrapped around me. A destroying flood swept over me. [5] The ropes of the grave were tight around me. Death set its trap in front of me. [6] When I was in trouble, I called out to the LORD. I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice. My cry for help reached his ears. [7] The earth trembled and shook. The base of the mountains rocked back and forth. It trembled because the LORD was angry. [8] Smoke came out of his nose. Flames of fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals blazed out of it. [9] He opened the heavens and came down. Dark clouds were under his feet. [10] He stood on the cherubim and flew. The wings of the wind lifted him up. [11] He covered himself with darkness. The dark rain clouds of the sky were like a tent around him. [12] Clouds came out of the brightness that was all around him. They came with hailstones and flashes of lightning. [13] The LORD thundered from heaven. The voice of the Most High God was heard. [14] He shot his arrows and scattered our enemies. He sent great flashes of lightning and chased the enemies away. [15] The bottom of the sea could be seen. The foundations of the earth were uncovered. LORD, it happened when your anger blazed out. It came like a blast of breath from your nose. [16] He reached down from heaven. He took hold of me. He lifted me out of deep waters. [17] He saved me from my powerful enemies. He set me free from those who were too strong for me. [18] They opposed me when I was in trouble. But the LORD helped me. [19] He brought me out into a wide and safe place. He saved me because he was pleased with me. [20] The LORD has been good to me because I do what is right. He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life. [21] I have lived the way the LORD wanted me to. I am not guilty of turning away from my God. [22] I keep all his laws in mind. I haven’t turned away from his commands. [23] He knows that I am without blame. He knows I’ve kept myself from sinning. [24] The LORD has rewarded me for doing what is right. He has rewarded me because I haven’t done anything wrong. [25] LORD, to those who are faithful you show that you are faithful. To those who are without blame you show that you are without blame. [26] To those who are pure you show that you are pure. But to those whose paths are crooked you show that you are clever. [27] You save those who aren’t proud. But you bring down those whose eyes are proud. [28] LORD, you keep the lamp of my life burning brightly. You are my God. You bring light into my darkness. [29] With your help I can attack a troop of soldiers. With the help of my God I can climb over a wall. [30] God’s way is perfect. The LORD’s word doesn’t have any flaws. He is like a shield to all who go to him for safety. [31] Who is God except the LORD? Who is the Rock except our God? [32] God gives me strength for the battle. He keeps my way secure. [33] He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He causes me to stand on the highest places. [34] He trains my hands to fight every battle. My arms can bend a bow of bronze. [35] LORD, you are like a shield that keeps me safe. Your strong right hand keeps me going. Your help has made me great. [36] You give me a wide path to walk on so that I don’t twist my ankles. [37] I chased my enemies and caught them. I didn’t turn back until they were destroyed. [38] I crushed them so that they couldn’t get up. They fell under my feet. [39] LORD, you gave me strength to fight the battle. You made my enemies humble in front of me. [40] You made them turn their backs and run away. So I destroyed my enemies. [41] They cried out for help. But there was no one to save them. They called out to the LORD. But he didn’t answer them. [42] I beat them as fine as dust blown by the wind. I stomped on them like mud in the streets. [43] You saved me when my own people attacked me. You made me the ruler over nations. People I didn’t know serve me now. [44] People from other lands bow down to me in fear. As soon as they hear me, they obey me. [45] All of them give up hope. They come trembling out of their hiding places. [46] The LORD lives! Give praise to my Rock! Give honor to God my Savior! [47] He is the God who pays back my enemies. He brings the nations under my control. [48] He saves me from my enemies. You have honored me more than them. You have saved me from a man who wanted to hurt me. [49] LORD, I will praise you among the nations. I will sing the praises of your name. [50] The LORD helps his king win great battles. He shows his faithful love to his anointed king. He shows it to David and to his family forever.