Psalms 18:1-30:12 For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to 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. He said, I love you, LORD, my strength.

NHEB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ [For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to 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. He said,] I love you, LORD, my strength. ² The LORD is my Rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. ³ I call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. ⁴ The waves of death surrounded me, and the currents of ungodliness overwhelmed me. ⁵ The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me. ⁶ In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry before him came into his ears. ⁷ Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. ⁸ Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. ⁹ He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. ¹⁰ He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind. ¹¹ He made darkness his hiding place, his canopy around him thick clouds dark with water. ¹² From the brightness before him his thick clouds passed on, with hailstones and coals of fire. ¹³ The LORD also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice. ¹⁴ And he sent out arrows and scattered them, and he shot lightning bolts and routed them. ¹⁵ And the depths of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. ¹⁶ He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters. ¹⁷ He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. ¹⁸ They came on me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. ¹⁹ He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. ²⁰ The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has 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 ordinances were before me. I did not put away his statutes from me. ²³ I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity. ²⁴ Therefore the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. ²⁵ With the faithful you show yourself faithful. With the innocent you show yourself innocent. ²⁶ With the pure you show yourself pure. And with the crooked you show yourself tortuous. ²⁷ For you will save a humble people, but the eyes of the proud you will bring low. ²⁸ For you light my lamp. The LORD my God lights up my darkness. ²⁹ For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. ³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the LORD is pure. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. ³¹ For who is God, except the LORD? Who is a rock, besides our God, ³² the God who girds me with strength, and makes my way blameless? ³³ He makes my feet like deer's feet, and sets me on my high places. ³⁴ He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze. ³⁵ You have also given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand holds me up, and your help has made me great. ³⁶ You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped. ³⁷ I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and I did not turn back until they were destroyed. ³⁸ I struck them through, so that they did not rise. They fell beneath my feet. ³⁹ For you have equipped me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. ⁴⁰ You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. ⁴¹ They cried, but there was none to save; even to the LORD, but he did not answer them. ⁴² Then I ground them as fine as the dust on the surface of a path. Like the mud in the streets, I trampled them. ⁴³ You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me; ⁴⁴ as soon as they hear of me they obey me. Foreigners come cringing to me; ⁴⁵ they are not bound in chains. ⁴⁶ The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation, ⁴⁷ even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me. ⁴⁸ He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. ⁴⁹ Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name. ⁵⁰ He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his descendants, until forever. ¹⁹ ¹ [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. ² Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they display knowledge. ³ There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. ⁴ Their voice has gone out to all the earth, their words to the farthest part of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, ⁵ which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course. ⁶ His going forth is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends; There is nothing hidden from its heat. ⁷ The LORD's Law is perfect, restoring the soul. The LORD's testimony is sure, making wise the simple. ⁸ The LORD's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. The LORD's commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. ⁹ The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. The LORD's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb. ¹¹ Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward. ¹² Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors. ¹³ Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight always, LORD, my rock and my redeemer. ²⁰ ¹ [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high. ² He will send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion. ³ He will remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah. ⁴ He will grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your plans. ⁵ We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May the LORD grant all your requests. ⁶ Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, with a mighty act of deliverance by his right hand. ⁷ Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust the name of the LORD our God. ⁸ They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright. ⁹ Save, LORD. Let the King answer us when we call. ²¹ ¹ [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] The king rejoices in your strength, LORD. How greatly he rejoices in your salvation. ² You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. ³ For you meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of fine gold on his head. ⁴ He asked life of you, you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever. ⁵ His glory is great in your salvation. You lay honor and majesty on him. ⁶ For you make him most blessed forever. You make him glad with joy in your presence. ⁷ For the king trusts in the LORD. Through the loving kindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved. ⁸ Your hand will find out all of your enemies. Your right hand will find all those who hate you. ⁹ You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them. ¹⁰ You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from among the descendants of Adam. ¹¹ Though they intend evil against you, devising a wicked scheme, they will not succeed. ¹² For you will make them turn their back, when you aim drawn bows at their face. ¹³ Be exalted, LORD, in your strength, so we will sing and praise your power. ²² ¹ [For the Chief Musician; set to "The Doe of the Morning." A Psalm by David.] My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning? ² My God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; in the night season, and am not silent. ³ But you are holy, you who inhabit the praises of Israel. ⁴ Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them. ⁵ They cried to you, and escaped. They trusted in you, and were not put to shame. ⁶ But I am a worm, and no man; scorned by people and despised by the people. ⁷ All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying, ⁸ "He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he delights in him." ⁹ But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust at my mother's breasts. ¹⁰ I was thrown on you from my mother's womb. You are my God since my mother bore me. ¹¹ Do not be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is none to help. ¹² Many bulls have surrounded me. Mighty ones of Bashan have encircled me. ¹³ They open their mouths wide against me, like a lion tearing prey and roaring. ¹⁴ I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted within me. ¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; and you have brought me into the dust of death. ¹⁶ For many dogs have surrounded me. A company of evildoers have enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and my feet. ¹⁷ I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me. ¹⁸ They divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast a lot. ¹⁹ But do not be far off, LORD. You are my help: hurry to help me. ²⁰ Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog. ²¹ Save me from the lion's mouth. Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen, you have answered me. ²² I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the assembly I will praise you. ²³ You who fear the LORD, praise him. All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him. Revere him, all you descendants of Israel. ²⁴ For he has not despised or detested the affliction of the afflicted, nor has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard. ²⁵ Of you comes my praise in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him. ²⁶ The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise the LORD who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever. ²⁷ Every part of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. ²⁸ For the kingdom is the LORD's, and he is the ruler over the nations. ²⁹ All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him; and my soul shall live for him. ³⁰ Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord. ³¹ They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it. ²³ ¹ [A Psalm by David.] The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ³ He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the LORD's house forever. ²⁴ ¹ [A Psalm by David.] The earth is the LORD's, and its fullness; the world, and those who dwell in it. ² For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods. ³ Who may ascend to the LORD's hill? Who may stand in his holy place? ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. ⁵ He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, righteousness from the God of his salvation. ⁶ This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah. ⁷ Lift up your heads, you gates. Be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in. ⁸ Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. ⁹ Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory will come in. ¹⁰ Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts is the King of glory. Selah. ²⁵ ¹ [By David.] To you, LORD, do I lift up my soul. ² My God, I have trusted in you. Do not let me be shamed. Do not let my enemies triumph over me. ³ Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause. ⁴ Show me your ways, LORD. Teach me your paths. ⁵ Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long. ⁶ LORD, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times. ⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness' sake, LORD. ⁸ Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way. ⁹ He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way. ¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are loving kindness and truth to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. ¹¹ For your name's sake, LORD, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. ¹² What man is he who fears the LORD? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose. ¹³ His soul shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the land. ¹⁴ The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant. ¹⁵ My eyes are ever on the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. ¹⁶ Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. ¹⁷ Relieve me from the distresses of my heart, and bring me out of my distresses. ¹⁸ Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins. ¹⁹ Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred. ²⁰ Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you. ²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you, LORD. ²² Redeem Israel, God, from all of his troubles. ²⁶ ¹ [By David.] Judge me, LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have trusted also in LORD without wavering. ² Examine me, LORD, and prove me. Try my heart and my mind. ³ For your loving kindness is before my eyes. I have walked in your truth. ⁴ I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites. ⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. ⁶ I will wash my hands in innocence, so I will go about your altar, LORD; ⁷ that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and tell of all your wondrous works. ⁸ LORD, I love the habitation of your house, the place where your glory dwells. ⁹ Do not gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men; ¹⁰ in whose hands is wickedness, their right hand is full of bribes. ¹¹ But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful to me. ¹² My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless the LORD. ²⁷ ¹ [By David.] The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? ² When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. ³ Though an army is deployed against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident. ⁴ One thing I have asked of the LORD, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to see the LORD's beauty, and to inquire in his temple. ⁵ For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock. ⁶ Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. ⁷ Hear, LORD, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me. ⁸ My heart said to you, "I have sought your face." Your face, LORD, I will seek. ⁹ Do not hide your face from me. Do not put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Do not abandon me, neither forsake me, God of my salvation. ¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. ¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies. ¹² Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out violence. ¹³ I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD. ²⁸ ¹ [By David.] To you, LORD, I call. My rock, do not be deaf to me; lest, if you are silent to me, I would become like those who go down into the pit. ² Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. ³ Do not draw me away with the wicked, with evildoers who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts. ⁴ Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings. Give them according to the operation of their hands. Bring back on them what they deserve. ⁵ Because they do not regard the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he will break them down and not build them up. ⁶ Blessed be the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my petitions. ⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him. ⁸ The LORD is the strength of his people. He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed. ⁹ Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever. ²⁹ ¹ [A Psalm by David.] Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. ² Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array. ³ The voice of the LORD is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even the LORD on many waters. ⁴ The voice of the LORD is powerful. The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. ⁵ The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars. Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. ⁶ He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox. ⁷ The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. ⁸ The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness. The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. ⁹ The voice of the LORD makes the large trees tremble, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, "Glory." ¹⁰ The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, the LORD sits as King forever. ¹¹ The LORD will give strength to his people. The LORD will bless his people with peace. ³⁰ ¹ [A Psalm. A Song for the Dedication of the Temple. By David.] I will extol you, LORD, for you have raised me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me. ² LORD my God, I cried to you, and you have healed me. ³ LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol. You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. ⁴ Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones. Give thanks to his holy name. ⁵ For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning. ⁶ As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved." ⁷ You, LORD, when you favored me, made my mountain stand strong; but when you hid your face, I was troubled. ⁸ I cried to you, LORD. To the Lord I made petition: ⁹ "What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth? ¹⁰ Hear, LORD, and have mercy on me. LORD, be my helper." ¹¹ You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness, ¹² To the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.