Psalm 18. I love you, O Lord, my strength, O Lord
my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God, my rock of refuge, my
shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the Lord, I exclaim and I am safe from mine
enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made
me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death
prevented me. In my distress, I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his
temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook
and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because
he was worth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his
mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came
down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly:
yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place;
his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At
the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and
coals of fire. The Lord also
thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals
of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out
lightnings, and discomfited them. Then the channels of waters were seen, and
the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy
nostrils. He sent from on high and he took me, and he drew me out of many
waters. He delivered me from my most mighty enemy, and from them that hated me:
for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity:
but the Lord was my
stay. He brought me forth into a large place; he delivered me, because I
pleased him. The Lord rewarded
me according to my justice, according to the cleanness of my hands hath he
recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments are
in my sight, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright
before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, hath the Lord recompensed me according to my
justice, according to the cleanness of my hands in the sight of his eyes. With
the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man, thou wilt
shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the
forward thou wilt shew thyself forward. For thou wilt save the afflicted
people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle:
the Lord my God will
enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God I
leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to
all those that trust in him. For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God? It
is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my
feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands
to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me
the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy
gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my
feet did not slip. I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did
I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not
able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with
strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against
me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy
them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto
the Lord, but he answered
them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast
them out as the dirt in the streets. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings
of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I
have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me:
the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away,
and be afraid out of their close places. He Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of
my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people
under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above
those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
Therefore, will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord,
among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance giveth he
to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for
evermore. Amen.
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