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Psalm 18 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

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The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress

(2Sa 22:1–51 )
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:1 - To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:2 - The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:3 - I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:4 - The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:5 - the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:6 - In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:7 - Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:8 - Smoke went up from his nostrils,[fn]
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:9 - He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:10 - He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:11 - He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:12 - Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:13 - The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:14 - And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:15 - Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:16 - He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:17 - He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too mighty for me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:18 - They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the LORD was my support.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:19 - He brought me out into a broad place;
he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:20 - The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:21 - For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:22 - For all his rules[fn] were before me,
and his statutes I did not put away from me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:23 - I was blameless before him,
and I kept myself from my guilt.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:24 - So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:25 - With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:26 - with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:27 - For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:28 - For it is you who light my lamp;
the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:29 - For by you I can run against a troop,
and by my God I can leap over a wall.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:30 - This God—his way is perfect;[fn]
the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:31 - For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:32 - the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:33 - He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:34 - He trains my hands for war,
so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:35 - You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:36 - You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:37 - I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
and did not turn back till they were consumed.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:38 - I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise;
they fell under my feet.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:39 - For you equipped me with strength for the battle;
you made those who rise against me sink under me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:40 - You made my enemies turn their backs to me,[fn]
and those who hated me I destroyed.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:41 - They cried for help, but there was none to save;
they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:42 - I beat them fine as dust before the wind;
I cast them out like the mire of the streets.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:43 - You delivered me from strife with the people;
you made me the head of the nations;
people whom I had not known served me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:44 - As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:45 - Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their fortresses.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:46 - The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation—
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:47 - the God who gave me vengeance
and subdued peoples under me,
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:48 - who rescued me from my enemies;
yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you delivered me from the man of violence.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:49 - For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations,
and sing to your name.
Unchecked Copy BoxPsa 18:50 - Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever.
ESV Footnotes
Or terrified me
Or in his wrath
Or just decrees
Or blameless
Or You gave me my enemies’ necks
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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