Psalms 18:1-22 ▼

1 For the one directing. Of the servant of YHWH, David, who spoke to YHWH the words of this song on the day that YHWH snatched him from the hand of all his enemies, from the hand of Saul. And he said: I love You, O YHWH, my strength.

2 YHWH is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock—I take refuge in Him—my protection, and the horn of my salvation, my high place.

3 I will call upon YHWH, to be praised, and I shall be saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of Death surrounded me, and the torrents of Belial terrified me.

5 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me.

6 In the distress unto me, I called to YHWH, and to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help came before His face into His ears.

7 And the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the hills trembled; and they were shaken because of the burning from Him.

8 Smoke went up from His nostril, and a devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled from it.

9 And He stretched apart the heavens and came down, and a dark cloud was under His feet.

10 And He rode upon a cherub and flew, and He took flight upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him—darkness of waters and thick clouds of vapors.

12 From the brightness before Him His thick clouds passed on, hail and coals of fire.

13 And YHWH thundered in the heavens, and the Most High gave forth His voice—hail and coals of fire.

14 And He sent out His arrows and scattered them, and He hurled lightning and routed them.

15 And the channels of the sea were seen. And the foundations of the world were uncovered, from Your rebuke, O YHWH, from the blast of the breath of Your nostril.

16 He sent from above, he took hold of me; He drew me out from the many waters.

17 He snatched me away from my strong enemy, and from those hating me, for they were stronger than I.

18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, and YHWH was as a support for me.

19 And He brought me out into a broad place; He pulled me out, because He took delight in me.

20 YHWH rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands, He returned it to me.

21 For I have kept the ways of YHWH, and I have not acted wickedly against my God.

22 For all His ordinances are before me, and I did not turn aside His statutes from me.