Psalm 18:1-17

Psalm 18In Hebrew texts 18:1-50 is numbered 18:2-51. 1For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD . He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, LORD, my strength.

2The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield Or sovereign and the horn Horn here symbolizes strength. of my salvation, my stronghold.

3I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.

4The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

6In my distress I called to the LORD ; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

7The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.

8Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.

9He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.

10He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.

11He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Samuel 22:14); most Hebrew manuscripts resounded, / amid hailstones and bolts of lightning

14He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.

15The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

17He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.