Psalms 18:1-16

¹(18-1) For the Leader. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul; (18-2) And he said: I love thee, O LORD, my strength.

²(18-3) The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower.

³(18-4) Praised, I cry, is the LORD, and I am saved from mine enemies.

⁴(18-5) The cords of Death compassed me, and the floods of Belial assailed me.

⁵(18-6) The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me.

⁶(18-7) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God; out of His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came before Him unto His ears.

⁷(18-8) Then the earth did shake and quake, the foundations also of the mountains did tremble; they were shaken, because He was wroth.

⁸(18-9) Smoke arose up in His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth did devour; coals flamed forth from Him.

⁹(18-10) He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.

¹⁰(18-11) And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, He did swoop down upon the wings of the wind.

¹¹(18-12) He made darkness His hiding-place, His pavilion round about Him; darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

¹²(18-13) At the brightness before Him, there passed through His thick clouds hailstones and coals of fire.

¹³(18-14) The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High gave forth His voice; hailstones and coals of fire.

¹⁴(18-15) And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them; and He shot forth lightnings, and discomfited them.

¹⁵(18-16) And the channels of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare, at Thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Thy nostrils.

¹⁶(18-17) He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.