Psalms 18

I love you, Yahweh, my strength.

Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer;

I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised;

The cords of death surrounded me.

The cords of Sheol were around me.

In my distress I called on Yahweh,

Then the earth shook and trembled.

Smoke went out of his nostrils.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down.

He rode on a cherub, and flew.

He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him,

At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed,

Yahweh also thundered in the sky.

He sent out his arrows, and scattered them.

Then the channels of waters appeared.

He sent from on high.

He delivered me from my strong enemy,

They came on me in the day of my calamity,

He brought me out also into a large place.

Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness.

For I have kept the ways of Yahweh,

For all his ordinances were before me.

I was also blameless with him.

Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

With the merciful you will show yourself merciful.

With the pure, you will show yourself pure.

For you will save the afflicted people,

For you will light my lamp, Yahweh.

For by you, I advance through a troop.

As for God, his way is perfect.

For who is God, except Yahweh?

the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?

He makes my feet like deer’s feet,

He teaches my hands to war,

You have also given me the shield of your salvation.

You have enlarged my steps under me,

I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them.

I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise.

For you have armed me with strength to the battle.

You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,

They cried, but there was no one to save;

Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind.

You have delivered me from the strivings of the people.

As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me.

The foreigners shall fade away,

Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock.

even the God who executes vengeance for me,

He rescues me from my enemies.

Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations,

He gives great deliverance to his king,