Psalm 18

1To the Overseer. — By a servant of Jehovah, by David, who hath spoken to Jehovah the words of this song in the day Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, and he saith: — I love Thee, O Jehovah, my strength.

2Jehovah is my rock, and my bulwark, And my deliverer, My God is my rock, I trust in Him: My shield, and a horn of my salvation, My high tower.

3The 'Praised One' I call Jehovah, And from my enemies I am saved.

4Compassed me have cords of death, And streams of the worthless make me afraid.

5Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been snares of death.

6In mine adversity I call Jehovah, And unto my God I cry. He heareth from His temple my voice, And My cry before Him cometh into His ears.

7And shake and tremble doth the earth, And foundations of hills are troubled, And they shake — because He hath wrath.

8Gone up hath smoke by His nostrils, And fire from His mouth consumeth, Coals have been kindled by it.

9And He inclineth the heavens, and cometh down, And thick darkness is under His feet.

10And He rideth on a cherub, and doth fly, And He flieth on wings of wind.

11He maketh darkness His secret place, Round about Him His tabernacle, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

12From the brightness over-against Him His thick clouds have passed on, Hail and coals of fire.

13And thunder in the heavens doth Jehovah, And the Most High giveth forth His voice, Hail and coals of fire.

14And He sendeth His arrows and scattereth them, And much lightning, and crusheth them.

15And seen are the streams of waters, And revealed are foundations of the earth. From Thy rebuke, O Jehovah, From the breath of the spirit of Thine anger.

16He sendeth from above — He taketh me, He draweth me out of many waters.

17He delivereth me from my strong enemy, And from those hating me, For they have been stronger than I.

18They go before me in a day of my calamity And Jehovah is for a support to me.

19And He bringeth me forth to a large place, He draweth me out, because He delighted in me.

20Jehovah doth recompense me According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, He doth return to me.

21For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not done wickedly against my God.

22For all His judgments are before me, And His statutes I turn not from me.

23And I am perfect with him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity.

24And Jehovah doth return to me, According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, Over-against his eyes.

25With the kind Thou showest Thyself kind, With a perfect man showest Thyself perfect.

26With the pure Thou showest Thyself pure, And with the perverse showest Thyself a wrestler,

27For Thou a poor people savest, And the eyes of the high causest to fall.

28For Thou — Thou lightest my lamp, Jehovah my God enlighteneth my darkness.

29For by Thee I run — a troop! And by my God I leap a wall.

30God! perfect is His way, The saying of Jehovah is tried, A shield is He to all those trusting in Him.

31For who is God besides Jehovah? And who is a rock save our God?

32God! who is girding me with strength, And He maketh perfect my way.

33Making my feet like hinds, And on my high places causeth me to stand.

34Teaching my hands for battle, And a bow of brass was brought down by my arms.

35And Thou givest to me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy right hand doth support me, And Thy lowliness maketh me great.

36Thou enlargest my step under me, And mine ankles have not slidden.

37I pursue mine enemies, and overtake them, And turn back not till they are consumed.

38I smite them, and they are not able to rise, They fall under my feet,

39And Thou girdest me with strength for battle, Causest my withstanders to bow under me.

40As to mine enemies — Thou hast given to me the neck, As to those hating me — I cut them off.

41They cry, and there is no saviour, On Jehovah, and He doth not answer them.

42And I beat them as dust before wind, As mire of the streets I empty them out.

43Thou dost deliver me From the strivings of the people, Thou placest me for a head of nations, A people I have not known do serve me.

44At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me, Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me,

45Sons of a stranger fade away, And are slain out of their close places.

46Jehovah liveth — and blessed is my rock, And exalted is the God of my salvation.

47God — who is giving vengeance to me, And He subdueth peoples under me,

48My deliverer from mine enemies, Above my withstanders Thou raisest me, From a man of violence dost deliver me.

49Therefore I confess Thee among nations, O Jehovah, And to Thy name I sing praise,

50Magnifying the salvation of His king, And doing kindness to His anointed, To David, and to his seed — unto the age!