Psalm 18 | Liturgical Calendar

1

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my stony rock, and my defence *

my saviour, my God, and my might, in whom I will trust, my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.

2

I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be praised *

so shall I be safe from mine enemies.

3

The sorrows of death compassed me *

and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid.

4

The pains of hell came about me *

the snares of death overtook me.

5

In my trouble I will call upon the Lord *

and complain unto my God.

6

So shall he hear my voice out of his holy temple *

and my complaint shall come before him, it shall enter even into his ears.

7

The earth trembled and quaked *

the very foundations also of the hills shook, and were removed, because he was wroth.

8

There went a smoke out in his presence *

and a consuming fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled at it.

9

He bowed the heavens also, and came down *

and it was dark under his feet.

10

He rode upon the cherubins, and did fly *

he came flying upon the wings of the wind.

11

He made darkness his secret place *

his pavilion round about him, with dark water and thick clouds to cover him.

12

At the brightness of his presence his clouds removed *

hail-stones, and coals of fire.

13

The Lord also thundered out of heaven, and the Highest gave his thunder *

hail-stones, and coals of fire.

14

He sent out his arrows, and scattered them *

he cast forth lightnings, and destroyed them.

15

The springs of water were seen, and the foundations of the round world were discovered, at thy chiding, O Lord *

at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure.

16

He shall send down from on high to fetch me *

and shall take me out of many waters.

17

He shall deliver me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me *

for they are too mighty for me.

18

They prevented me in the day of my trouble *

but the Lord was my upholder.

19

He brought me forth also into a place of liberty *

he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me.

20

The Lord shall reward me after my righteous dealing *

according to the cleanness of my hands shall he recompense me.

21

Because I have kept the ways of the Lord *

and have not forsaken my God, as the wicked doth.

22

For I have an eye unto all his laws *

and will not cast out his commandments from me.

23

I was also uncorrupt before him *

and eschewed mine own wickedness.

24

Therefore shall the Lord reward me after my righteous dealing *

and according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eye-sight.

25

With the holy thou shalt be holy *

and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect.

26

With the clean thou shalt be clean *

and with the froward thou shalt learn frowardness.

27

For thou shalt save the people that are in adversity *

and shalt bring down the high looks of the proud.

28

Thou also shalt light my candle *

the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be light.

29

For in thee I shall discomfit an host of men *

and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall.

30

The way of God is an undefiled way *

the word of the Lord also is tried in the fire; he is the defender of all them that put their trust in him.

31

For who is God, but the Lord *

or who hath any strength, except our God?

32

It is God, that girdeth me with strength of war *

and maketh my way perfect.

33

He maketh my feet like harts’ feet *

and setteth me up on high.

34

He teacheth mine hands to fight *

and mine arms shall break even a bow of steel.

35

Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation *

thy right hand also shall hold me up, and thy loving correction shall make me great.

36

Thou shalt make room enough under me for to go *

that my footsteps shall not slide.

37

I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them *

neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them.

38

I will smite them, that they shall not be able to stand *

but fall under my feet.

39

Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle *

thou shalt throw down mine enemies under me.

40

Thou hast made mine enemies also to turn their backs upon me *

and I shall destroy them that hate me.

41

They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them *

yea, even unto the Lord shall they cry, but he shall not hear them.

42

I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind *

I will cast them out as the clay in the streets.

43

Thou shalt deliver me from the strivings of the people *

and thou shalt make me the head of the heathen.

44

A people whom I have not known *

shall serve me.

45

As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me *

but the strange children shall dissemble with me.

46

The strange children shall fail *

and be afraid out of their prisons.

47

The Lord liveth, and blessed be my strong helper *

and praised be the Lord of my salvation;

48

Even the God that seeth that I be avenged *

and subdueth the people unto me.

49

It is he that delivereth me from my cruel enemies, and setteth me up above mine adversaries *

thou shalt rid me from the wicked man.

50

For this cause will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles *

and sing praises unto thy Name.

51

Great prosperity giveth he unto his King *

and sheweth loving-kindness unto David his Anointed, and unto his seed for evermore.