Psalm 18
Common English Bible
Psalm 18[a]
For the music leader. Of David the Lord’s servant, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord after the Lord delivered him from the power of all his enemies and from Saul.
18 He said: I love you, Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my solid rock,
    my fortress, my rescuer.
My God is my rock—
I take refuge in him!—
        he’s my shield,
        my salvation’s strength,
        my place of safety.
3 Because he is praiseworthy,[b]
    I cried out to the Lord,
    and I was saved from my enemies.
4 Death’s cords were wrapped around me;
    rivers of wickedness terrified me.
5 The cords of the grave[c] surrounded me;
    death’s traps held me tight.
6 In my distress I cried out to the Lord;
    I called to my God for help.
God heard my voice from his temple;
    I called to him for help,
    and my call reached his ears.
7 The earth rocked and shook;
    the bases of the mountains trembled and reeled
    because of God’s anger.
8 Smoke went up from God’s nostrils;
    out of his mouth came a devouring fire;
    flaming coals blazed out in front of him!
9 God parted the skies and came down;
    thick darkness was beneath his feet.
10 God mounted the heavenly creatures and flew;
    he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 God made darkness cloak him;
    his covering was dark water and dense cloud.
12 God’s clouds went ahead
    of the brightness before him;
    hail and coals of fire went too.
13 The Lord thundered in heaven;
    the Most High made his voice heard
    with hail and coals of fire.
14 God shot his arrows, scattering the enemy;
    he sent the lightning and threw them into confusion.
15 The seabeds were exposed;
    the earth’s foundations were laid bare
        at your rebuke, Lord,
        at the angry blast of air coming from your nostrils.
16 From on high God reached down and grabbed me;
    he took me out of all that water.
17 God saved me from my powerful enemy,
    saved me from my foes,
    who were too much for me.
18 They came at me on the very day of my distress,
    but the Lord was my support.
19 He brought me out to wide-open spaces;
    he pulled me out safe
    because he is pleased with me.
20 The Lord rewarded me for my righteousness;
    he restored me because my hands are clean,
21     because I have kept the Lord’s ways.
    I haven’t acted wickedly against my God.
22 All his rules are right in front of me;
    I haven’t turned away from any of his laws.
23 I have lived with integrity before him;
    I’ve kept myself from wrongdoing.
24 And so the Lord restored me for my righteousness
    because my hands are clean in his eyes.
25 You deal faithfully with the faithful;
    you show integrity
        toward the one who has integrity.
26 You are pure toward the pure,
    but toward the crooked, you are tricky.
27 You are the one who saves people who suffer
    and brings down those with proud eyes.
28 You are the one who lights my lamp—
    the Lord my God illumines my darkness.
29 With you I can charge into battle;
    with my God I can leap over a wall.
30 God! His way is perfect;
    the Lord’s word is tried and true.
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
31 Now really, who is divine except the Lord?
    And who is a rock but our God?
32 Only God! The God who equips me with strength
    and makes my way perfect,
33     who makes my step as sure as the deer’s,
    who lets me stand securely on the heights,
34     who trains my hands for war
    so my arms can bend a bronze bow.
35 You’ve given me the shield of your salvation;
    your strong hand has supported me;
    your help has made me great.
36 You’ve let me walk fast and safe,
    without even twisting an ankle.
37 I chased my enemies and caught them!
    I didn’t come home until I finished them off.
38 I struck them down;
    they couldn’t get up again;
    they fell under my feet.
39 You equipped me with strength for war;
    you brought my adversaries down underneath me.
40 You made my enemies turn tail from me;
    I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help,
        but there was no one to save them.
    They cried for help to the Lord,
        but he wouldn’t answer them.
42 I crushed them
        like dust blown away by the wind;
    I threw them out
        like mud dumped in the streets.
43 You delivered me from struggles with many people;
    you appointed me the leader of many nations.
        Strangers come to serve me.
44 After hearing about me, they obey me;
    foreigners grovel before me.
45 Foreigners lose their nerve;
    they come trembling out of their fortresses.[d]
46 The Lord lives! Bless God, my rock!
    Let the God of my salvation be lifted high!
47 This is the God who avenges on my behalf,
    who subdues people before me,
48     who delivers me from my enemies.
Yes, you lifted me high above my adversaries;
        you delivered me from violent people.
49     That’s why I thank you, Lord,
        in the presence of the nations.
    That’s why I sing praises to your name.
50 You are the one who gives great victories to your king,
    who shows faithful love to your anointed one—
    to David and to his descendants forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 18:1 This poem also occurs in 2 Sam 22 with some variations.
- Psalm 18:3 Heb uncertain
- Psalm 18:5 Heb Sheol
- Psalm 18:45 Or prisons
Psalm 18
New International Version
Psalm 18[a](A)
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
1 I love you, Lord, my strength.(B)
2 The Lord is my rock,(C) my fortress(D) and my deliverer;(E)
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(F)
    my shield[b](G) and the horn[c] of my salvation,(H) my stronghold.
3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,(I)
    and I have been saved from my enemies.(J)
4 The cords of death(K) entangled me;
    the torrents(L) of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death(M) confronted me.
6 In my distress(N) I called to the Lord;(O)
    I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;(P)
    my cry came(Q) before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled(R) and quaked,(S)
    and the foundations of the mountains shook;(T)
    they trembled because he was angry.(U)
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;(V)
    consuming fire(W) came from his mouth,
    burning coals(X) blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;(Y)
    dark clouds(Z) were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim(AA) and flew;
    he soared(AB) on the wings of the wind.(AC)
11 He made darkness his covering,(AD) his canopy(AE) around him—
    the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence(AF) clouds advanced,
    with hailstones(AG) and bolts of lightning.(AH)
13 The Lord thundered(AI) from heaven;
    the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
14 He shot his arrows(AJ) and scattered the enemy,
    with great bolts of lightning(AK) he routed them.(AL)
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
    and the foundations(AM) of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke,(AN) Lord,
    at the blast of breath from your nostrils.(AO)
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.(AP)
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,(AQ)
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.(AR)
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,(AS)
    but the Lord was my support.(AT)
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;(AU)
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.(AV)
20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;(AW)
    according to the cleanness of my hands(AX) he has rewarded me.(AY)
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;(AZ)
    I am not guilty of turning(BA) from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;(BB)
    I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless(BC) before him
    and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,(BD)
    according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful(BE) you show yourself faithful,(BF)
    to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure(BG) you show yourself pure,
    but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.(BH)
27 You save the humble(BI)
    but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.(BJ)
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp(BK) burning;
    my God turns my darkness into light.(BL)
29 With your help(BM) I can advance against a troop[e];
    with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect:(BN)
    The Lord’s word is flawless;(BO)
    he shields(BP) all who take refuge(BQ) in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?(BR)
    And who is the Rock(BS) except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength(BT)
    and keeps my way secure.(BU)
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;(BV)
    he causes me to stand on the heights.(BW)
34 He trains my hands for battle;(BX)
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains(BY) me;
    your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path(BZ) for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.(CA)
37 I pursued my enemies(CB) and overtook them;
    I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them(CC) so that they could not rise;(CD)
    they fell beneath my feet.(CE)
39 You armed me with strength(CF) for battle;
    you humbled my adversaries(CG) before me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs(CH) in flight,
    and I destroyed(CI) my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them(CJ)—
    to the Lord, but he did not answer.(CK)
42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust;(CL)
    I trampled them[f] like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
    you have made me the head of nations.(CM)
People I did not know(CN) now serve me,
44     foreigners(CO) cower before me;
    as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
45 They all lose heart;(CP)
    they come trembling(CQ) from their strongholds.(CR)
46 The Lord lives!(CS) Praise be to my Rock!(CT)
    Exalted be God(CU) my Savior!(CV)
47 He is the God who avenges(CW) me,
    who subdues nations(CX) under me,
48     who saves(CY) me from my enemies.(CZ)
You exalted me above my foes;
    from a violent man(DA) you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;(DB)
    I will sing(DC) the praises of your name.(DD)
Footnotes
- Psalm 18:1 In Hebrew texts 18:1-50 is numbered 18:2-51.
- Psalm 18:2 Or sovereign
- Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.
- Psalm 18:13 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Samuel 22:14); most Hebrew manuscripts resounded, / amid hailstones and bolts of lightning
- Psalm 18:29 Or can run through a barricade
- Psalm 18:42 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac and Targum (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); Masoretic Text I poured them out
Psaltaren 18
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
Kungens tack för räddning och seger
18 (A) För körledaren. Av Herrens tjänare David, som sjöng denna sång till Herren när Herrenhade räddat honom från alla hans fiender[a] och ur Sauls våld. 2 (B) Han sade:
Hjärtligt kär har jag dig,
    Herre min styrka,
3 (C) Herre mitt bergfäste,
        min borg och min räddare,
    min Gud, min klippa
        och min tillflykt,
    min sköld och min frälsnings horn[b],
        mitt värn!
4 (D) Jag ropar till Herren,
        den högt lovade,
    och jag blir frälst från mina fiender.
5 (E) Dödens band omgav mig,
    fördärvets strömmar
        skrämde mig,
6 dödsrikets band omslöt mig,
    dödens snaror mötte mig.
7 (F) I min nöd åkallade jag Herren,
        jag ropade till min Gud.
    Från sitt tempel
        hörde han min röst,
    mitt rop till honom
        nådde hans öron.
8 (G) Då skakade jorden och bävade,
        bergens grundvalar darrade,
    de skakade av hans brinnande
        vrede.
9 (H) Rök steg ur hans näsa
        och förtärande eld ur hans mun,
    det gnistrade av glöd från honom.
10 Han sänkte himlen och steg ner
    med mörka moln under sina fötter,
11 (I) han red på keruben och flög,
    han svävade fram
        på vindens vingar.
12 (J) Han gjorde mörker till sitt skydd,
    till sin hydda runt omkring honom:
        mörka vatten, tjocka moln.
13 Ur glansen framför honom
    bröt molnen fram
        med hagel och glödande kol.
14 (K) Herren dundrade i himlen,
    den Högste höjde sin röst
        med hagel och glödande kol[c].
15 (L) Han sköt sina pilar
        och skingrade dem,
    blixtar i mängd och förvirrade dem.
16 Flodbäddar blev synliga,
        jordens grundvalar blottades
    för din tillrättavisning, Herre,
        för din vredes stormvind.
17 (M) Han räckte sin hand från höjden
        och grep tag i mig,
    han drog mig upp
        ur de väldiga vattnen.
18 (N) Han räddade mig
        från min mäktige fiende,
    från dem som hatade mig
        och var starkare än jag.
19 (O) De anföll mig på min olyckas dag,
    men Herren var mitt stöd.
20 Han förde mig ut på rymlig plats,
    han räddade mig
        eftersom han älskar mig.
21 (P) Herren var god mot mig
        efter min rättfärdighet,
    han lönade mig
        efter mina händers renhet,
22 för jag har hållit mig
        på Herrens vägar
    och inte avfallit
        från min Gud.
23 Jag har haft alla hans domar
        för ögonen
    och inte avvisat hans stadgar.
24 (Q) Jag har varit fullkomlig
        inför honom
    och aktat mig för synd.
25 (R) Därför har Herren lönat mig
    efter min rättfärdighet,
        efter mina händers renhet
            inför hans ögon.
26 Mot den trogne är du trofast,
    mot den fullkomlige
        är du fullkomlig.
27 (S) Mot den rene är du ren,
    men mot den falske är du vrång.
28 (T) Ja, du frälser ett förtryckt folk,
    men stolta ögon ödmjukar du.
29 (U) Du låter min lampa brinna klart,
    Herren min Gud
        lyser upp mitt mörker.
30 (V) Med dig slår jag ner en armé[d],
    med min Gud stormar jag murar.
31 (W) Guds väg är fullkomlig,
        Herrens ord är rent.
    Han är en sköld
        för alla som flyr till honom.
32 (X) Vem är Gud förutom Herren,
    vem är en klippa utom vår Gud?
33 (Y) Gud, du rustar mig med kraft
    och gör min väg fullkomlig,
34 du gör mina fötter
        som hindens
    och ställer mig på mina höjder.
35 (Z) Du lär mina händer att strida,
    mina armar att spänna
        kopparbågen.
36 (AA) Du ger mig din frälsnings sköld,
    din högra hand
        stöder mig.
    Din ödmjukhet gör mig stor.
37 (AB) Du gör plats för mina steg
        där jag går,
    mina fötter vacklar inte.
38 Jag förföljde mina fiender
        och hann upp dem,
    jag vände inte
        förrän jag gjort slut på dem.
39 (AC) Jag krossade dem
        så att de inte kunde resa sig,
    de föll under mina fötter.
40 Du rustade mig med kraft
        för striden,
    du böjde mina motståndare
        under mig.
41 Mina fiender drev du på flykten
        för mig,
    dem som hatade mig
        förintade jag.
42 (AD) De ropade,
        men ingen räddare fanns,
    till Herren,
        men han svarade dem inte.
43 Jag malde dem
        till stoft för vinden,
    jag slängde ut[e] dem
        som smuts på gatan.
44 (AE) Du räddade mig
        ur folkets strider,
    du satte mig till huvud
        över hednafolk,
    folk som jag inte kände
        blev mina tjänare.
45 (AF) Så snart de hörde om mig
        lydde de mig,
    främlingar kröp för mig.
46 Främlingarnas mod
        vissnade bort,
    bävande lämnade de sina fästen.
47 Herren lever!
    Lovad är min klippa,
        upphöjd är min frälsnings Gud!
48 (AG) Gud, du har gett mig hämnd
    och lagt folken under mig.
49 Du har befriat mig
        från mina fiender,
    du har upphöjt mig
        över mina motståndare
    och räddat mig från våldsmän.
50 (AH) Därför vill jag tacka dig
        bland hednafolken, Herre,
    och lovsjunga ditt namn,[f]
51 (AI) för du ger stora segrar
        till din kung
    och visar nåd mot din smorde,
    mot David och hans ätt[g]
        till evig tid.
Footnotes
- 18:1 när Herren hade räddat honom från alla hans fiender Troligen vid slutet av Davids liv. En snarlik version av denna psalm återfinns i 2 Sam 22.
- 18:3 horn Symbol för styrka.
- 18:14 med hagel och glödande kol Orden saknas i vissa handskrifter och i 2 Sam 22:14.
- 18:30 slår jag ner en armé Annan översättning: "rusar jag fram mot vallar".
- 18:43 slängde ut Andra handskrifter (så Septuaginta och 2 Sam 22:43): "trampade ner".
- 18:50 Citeras av Paulus i Rom 15:9 som profetia om missionen bland hedningarna.
- 18:51 ätt Annan översättning: "ättling" (alltså Messias, Davids son).
Psalm 18
King James Version
18 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath 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 judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
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