Psalms 18:1-19

1For the music director: a psalm of David the servant of Adonai. He chanted the words of this song to Adonai on the day Adonai delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.

2He said, I love You, Adonai my strength!

3Adonai is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in Him I take refuge, my shield, my horn of salvation, my stronghold.

4I called upon Adonai, worthy of praise, and I was rescued from my enemies.

5Cords of death entangled me. Torrents of Belial overwhelmed me.

6Cords of Sheol coiled around me. Snares of death came before me.

7In my distress I called on Adonai, and cried to my God for help. From His Temple He heard my voice, my cry before Him came into His ears.

8Then the earth rocked and quaked. The foundations of mountains trembled. They reeled because He was angry.

9Smoke rose from His nostrils and consuming fire from His mouth. Coals blazed from Him.

10He parted the heavens and came down, with thick darkness under His feet.

11He rode upon a cheruv and flew. He soared on the wings of the wind.

12He made darkness His cover, His sukkah all around Him— dark waters, thick clouds.

13Out of the brilliance before Him passed His thick clouds, hail and fiery coals.

14Adonai also thundered in the heavens, and Elyon gave forth His voice, hail and fiery coals.

15He shot His arrows and scattered them, hurled lightning bolts and routed them.

16Then ravines of water appeared. The foundations of earth were exposed, at Your rebuke, Adonai, at a blast of breath from Your nostrils.

17He reached down from on high and took hold of me. He drew me out of mighty waters.

18He saved me from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me— for they were much stronger than me.

19They came against me in my day of calamity, but Adonai was my support.