Psalms 18:1-19

112345He said: “I love you, Lord, my source of strength!

2The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge.

3I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.

4The waves of death engulfed me, the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.

5The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me.

6In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried out to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

7The earth heaved and shook; the roots of the mountains trembled; they heaved because he was angry.

8Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.

9He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.

10He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.

11He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.

12From the brightness in front of him came hail and fiery coals.

13The Lord thundered in the sky; the sovereign One shouted.

14He shot his arrows and scattered them, many lightning bolts and routed them.

15The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by your battle cry, Lord, by the powerful breath from your nose.

16He reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me from the surging water.

17He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.

18They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

19He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.