Psalm 18

Revised Version 1895

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he said,

1I love thee, O LORDH3068, my strengthH3027.

2The LORDH3068 is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my GodH3068, my strong rock, in him will I trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

3I will call upon the LORDH3068, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4The cords of death compassed meH4480, and the floods of ungodliness madeH7121 meH4480 afraid.

5The cordsH2256 of Sheol were round about meH661: the snares of deathH4194 came on meH661.

6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry beforeH6923 him came into his ears.

7Then the earth shook and trembled, meH413 foundations also of the mountains movedH935 and were shaken, becauseH6440 he was wroth.

8There went upH4146 a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindledH2734 by it.

9He bowed the heavens also, and cameH5927 downH639, and thick darkness was underH4480 his feet.

10And he rode uponH3381 a cherub, and did fly, yea, he flew swiftly uponH3381 the wings of the wind.

11He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion round aboutH5921 him; darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skiesH5921.

12At the brightness before him his thickH5645 cloudsH5645 passed, hailstones and coals of fire.

13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice; hailstonesH1259 and coalsH1513 of fireH784.

14And he sentH5414 outH784 his arrowsH784, and scattered them; yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.

15Then the channels of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were laidH7971 bare, at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16He sentH1540 from on high, he took meH7200; he drew meH7200 outH7200 of many watersH4325.

17He deliveredH7971 meH7971 from my strong enemy, and from them that hated meH7971, for they were tooH7227 mighty for meH7971.

18They came upon meH8130 in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

19He broughtH1961 meH1961 forth also intoH1961 a large placeH1961; he delivered meH1961, becauseH3117 he delighted in meH1961.

20The LORDH2502 rewarded meH3318 according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed meH3318.

21For I have kept the ways of the LORDH3068, and have not wickedly departed from my GodH3068.

22For all his judgments were beforeH3808 meH8104, and I put notH3808 away his statutes from meH8104.

23I was also perfect with him, and I kept myself from mineH4480 iniquity.

24Therefore hath the LORD recompensed meH5973 according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with the perfect man thou wilt shew thyself perfect;

26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the perverse thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down.

28For thou wilt light my lamp: the LORD my God will lighten my darkness.

29For by thee I run upon a troop; and by my GodH430 do I leap over a wall.

30As for GodH430, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried; he is a shield unto all them that trust in him.

31For who is GodH410, save the LORDH3068? and who is a rock, beside our GodH410?

32The GodH430 that girdeth meH2108 with strengthH6697, and maketh my way perfect.

33He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth meH5414 upon my high places,

34He teacheth my hands to war; soH5975 that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

35Thou hast also givenH3027 meH3925 the shield of thy salvation: and thy right handH3027 hath holden meH3925 up, and thy gentleness hath made meH3925 great.

36Thou hast enlarged my steps under meH5414, and my feet have not slipped.

37I will pursue mineH8478 enemies, and overtake them: neitherH3808 will I turn again till they are consumed.

38I will smite them through that they shall notH3808 be able to rise: they shall fall under my feet.

39For thou hast girded meH3808 with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued underH8478 meH3808 those that roseH6965 upH6965 against meH3808.

40Thou hast also made mineH8478 enemiesH6965 turn their backs unto meH3766, that I might cut off them that hate meH3766.

41They criedH5414, but there was none to save: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

42Then didH3808 I beat them small as the dust beforeH5921 the wind: I didH3808 cast them outH5921 as the mire of the streets.

43Thou hast delivered meH6440 from the strivings of the people; thou hast made meH6440 the headH6440 of the nations: a people whom I have not known shall serveH6440 meH6440.

44As soon as they hear of meH7760 they shall obeyH3045 meH7760: the strangers shall submit themselvesH7218 unto meH7760.

45The strangers shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their close places.

46The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation:

47Even the GodH3068 that executeth vengeance for meH7311, and subdueth peoples under meH7311.

48He rescueth meH5414 from mineH8478 enemies: yea, thou liftest meH5414 upH5414 above them that rise upH5414 againstH1696 meH5414: thou deliverest meH5414 from the violent man.

49Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the nations, and will sing praises unto thy name.

50Great deliverance giveth he to his kingH5921; and sheweth lovingkindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore.

Commentaries on Psalms 18

Revised Version 1895 — 1895 — Public Domain