Psalm 18 – KJV

Psalm 18

1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure, and with the froward, thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks.
28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

Psalm 18 – Prayer

Heavenly Father, my Rock, and my Fortress,
I love You, Lord, my strength and my shield.
You are my Deliverer, my God, my stronghold.
In my distress, I call upon Your holy name,
And You hear me from Your glorious throne.

The earth trembles at Your power; the heavens bow low.
Smoke and fire proclaim Your Majesty;
You ride upon the wings of the wind.
Your voice thunders like the mighty seas;
Your lightning pierces the darkness around me.

You reached down and rescued me from the depths.
From waters too strong for me, You delivered me.
You are my support, my firm foundation;
You bring me into a wide and spacious place,
For You delight in me, O Lord.

You reward the righteous, O God,
For You see the heart and judge with truth.
Your ways are perfect, Your word is flawless.
You are a shield to those who trust in You,
And there is no God but You, O Savior.

You gird me with strength for the battle;
You make my feet steady, like the deer’s.
By Your power, I leap over walls;
By Your guidance, my hands conquer foes.
You enlarge my path so my steps will not falter.

The nations bow before Your name;
You subdue the mighty and raise the humble.
You are my lamp, O Lord, the light of my life;
You turn my darkness into day. Forever I will sing of Your mercy and love.
To You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
Be glory, honor, and praise, now and always.

Amen.

Psalm 18 – Poem

I love Thee, Lord, my strength, my shield,
My fortress, in whom my heart is sealed.
The Rock, my refuge, my soul’s delight,
My Savior, my God, my guiding light.

When death’s dark sorrows wrapped me round,
And floods of fear sought to confound,
I called on Thee, O Lord most high,
Thy voice responded to my cry.

The earth did quake, the mountains reeled,
Thy fury, Lord, in fire revealed.
Thou bowed the heavens, came swiftly near,
Thy glory scattered every fear.

On wings of wind, through clouds so dark,
Thy thunders roared, Thy lightning sparked.
Thy voice, O Lord, split seas and stone,
To save the one Thou calls Thine own.

Thy hand reached down to draw me near,
From mighty waters, from snares of fear.
My foes, too strong, against me rose,
But Thou art stronger than my woes.

Thou set my feet in spacious place,
And showered me with saving grace.
According to my ways and right,
Thy mercy kept me in Thy sight.

With blameless heart, my steps were true,
Thy statutes held my soul in view.
For pure with pure, Thou showest grace,
Yet proud hearts stumble from their place.

Thy light, O Lord, my candle’s flame,
Dispels the shadows of all shame.
Through Thee, I leap o’er mighty wall,
Thy power uplifts me when I fall.

Perfect and proven, Thy word remains,
A shield for all who call Thy name.
Who is a rock but Thee alone?
Thy strength makes steadfast hearts of stone.

Thou gird’st me with Thy power, O Lord,
And set my feet on pathways broad.
Thou makest me swift as mountain deer,
Unshaken paths my way draw near.

My hands are trained for battle’s art,
Thy shield of love protects my heart.
Thy gentleness has made me great,
Thy power secures my destined fate.

My foes, they stumble, they cannot rise,
For Thou hast cast them from the skies.
Their cries for help reach not Thy throne,
Their strength has faltered; they’re overthrown.

I smite them low beneath my feet,
Their pride laid bare in stark defeat.
Thou lifted me above the fray,
And nations hear my song today.

Strangers submit, their courage drains,
They fear Thy power, their strength disdains.
The Lord lives on, my Rock and King,
To Thee, O God, my praises ring.

Thy mercy great, Thy name adored,
Forever blessed, my saving Lord.
To David’s house, Thy love is sure,
Forevermore it shall endure.