Psalm 1839

For the music director; by the Lord’s servant David, who sang40 to the Lord the words of this song when41 the Lord rescued him from the power42 of all his enemies, including Saul.43

18:1 He said:1

“I love2 you, Lord, my source of strength!3

18:2 The Lord is my high ridge,4 my stronghold,5 my deliverer.

My God is my rocky summit where6 I take shelter,7

my shield, the horn that saves me,8 and my refuge.9

18:3 I called10 to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,11

and I was delivered from my enemies.

18:4 The waves12 of death engulfed me,

the currents13 of chaos14 overwhelmed me.15

18:5 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me,16

the snares of death trapped me.17

18:6 In my distress I called to the Lord;

I cried out to my God.18

From his heavenly temple19 he heard my voice;

he listened to my cry for help.20

18:7 The earth heaved and shook;21

the roots of the mountains22 trembled;23

they heaved because he was angry.

18:8 Smoke ascended from24 his nose;25

fire devoured as it came from his mouth;26

he hurled down fiery coals.27

18:9 He made the sky sink28 as he descended;

a thick cloud was under his feet.

18:10 He mounted29 a winged angel30 and flew;

he glided31 on the wings of the wind.32

18:11 He shrouded himself in darkness,33

in thick rain clouds.34

18:12 From the brightness in front of him came

hail and fiery coals.35

18:13 The Lord thundered36 in37 the sky;

the sovereign One38 shouted.39

18:14 He shot his40 arrows and scattered them,41

many lightning bolts42 and routed them.43

18:15 The depths44 of the sea45 were exposed;

the inner regions46 of the world were uncovered

by47 your battle cry,48 Lord,

by the powerful breath from your nose.49

18:16 He reached down50 from above and took hold of me;

he pulled me from the surging water.51

18:17 He rescued me from my strong enemy,52

from those who hate me,

for they were too strong for me.

18:18 They confronted53 me in my day of calamity,

but the Lord helped me.54

18:19 He brought me out into a wide open place;

he delivered me because he was pleased with me.55

18:20 The Lord repaid56 me for my godly deeds;57

he rewarded58 my blameless behavior.59

18:21 For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands;60

I have not rebelled against my God.61

18:22 For I am aware of all his regulations,62

and I do not reject his rules.63

18:23 I was innocent before him,

and kept myself from sinning.64

18:24 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds;65

he took notice of my blameless behavior.66

18:25 You prove to be loyal67 to one who is faithful;68

you prove to be trustworthy69 to one who is innocent.70

18:26 You prove to be reliable71 to one who is blameless,

but you prove to be deceptive72 to one who is perverse.73

18:27 For you deliver oppressed74 people,

but you bring down those who have a proud look.75

18:28 Indeed,76 you are my lamp, Lord.77

My God78 illuminates the darkness around me.79

18:29 Indeed,80 with your help81 I can charge against82 an army;83

by my God’s power84 I can jump over a wall.85

18:30 The one true God acts in a faithful manner;86

the Lord’s promise87 is reliable;88

he is a shield to all who take shelter89 in him.

18:31 Indeed,90 who is God besides the Lord?

Who is a protector91 besides our God?92

18:32 The one true God93 gives94 me strength;95

he removes96 the obstacles in my way.97

18:33 He gives me the agility of a deer;98

he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.99

18:34 He trains my hands for battle;100

my arms can bend even the strongest bow.101

18:35 You give me your protective shield;102

your right hand supports me;103

your willingness to help104 enables me to prevail.105

18:36 You widen my path;106

my feet107 do not slip.

18:37 I chase my enemies and catch108 them;

I do not turn back until I wipe them out.

18:38 I beat them109 to death;110

they fall at my feet.111

18:39 You give me strength112 for battle;

you make my foes kneel before me.113

18:40 You make my enemies retreat;114

I destroy those who hate me.115

18:41 They cry out, but there is no one to help them;116

they cry out to the Lord,117 but he does not answer them.

18:42 I grind them as fine windblown dust;118

I beat them underfoot119 like clay120 in the streets.

18:43 You rescue me from a hostile army;121

you make me122 a leader of nations;

people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.123

18:44 When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.124

Foreigners are powerless125 before me;

18:45 foreigners lose their courage;126

they shake with fear127 as they leave128 their strongholds.129

18:46 The Lord is alive!130

My protector131 is praiseworthy!132

The God who delivers me133 is exalted as king!134

18:47 The one true God135 completely vindicates me;136

he makes nations submit to me.137

18:48 He delivers me138 from my enemies;

you snatch me away139 from those who attack me;140

you rescue me from violent men.

18:49 So I will give you thanks before the nations,141 O Lord!

I will sing praises to you!142

18:50 He143 gives his chosen king magnificent victories;144

he is faithful145 to his chosen ruler,146

to David and his descendants147 forever.”148