Psalm 18:1-50 NCV

[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 defender. [3] I will call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I will be saved from my enemies. [4] The ropes of death came around 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 trembled because the LORD was angry. [8] Smoke came out of his nose, and burning fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals went before him. [9] He tore open the sky and came down with dark clouds under his feet. [10] He rode a creature with wings and flew. He raced 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 with hail and lightning. [13] The LORD thundered from heaven; the 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. Then the valleys of the sea appeared, and 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, from those who hated me, because they 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 and 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, because I did what the LORD said was right. [25] LORD, you are loyal to those who are loyal, and 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 the humble, but you bring down 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 that 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 better way to live, so I live as you want me to. [37] I chased my enemies and caught them. I did not quit until 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, and 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, 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 and 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 and brings people under my rule. [48] He saves me from my enemies. You set me over those who hate me. You saved me from violent people. [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.