Psalm 18:1-25

Easy-to-Read Version

² The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, my place of safety.
    He is my God, the Rock I run to for protection.
He is my shield; by his power I am saved.^[b]
    He is my hiding place high in the hills.

³ I called to the Lord for help,
    and he saved me from my enemies!
    He is worthy of my praise!
⁴ Death had its ropes wrapped around me.
    A deadly flood was carrying me away.
⁵ The ropes of the grave wrapped around me.
    Death set its trap right there in front of me.
⁶ In my trouble I called to the Lord.
    Yes, I cried out to my God for help.
There in his temple he heard my voice.
    He heard my cry for help.
⁷ The earth shook and shivered.
    The foundations of the mountains trembled.
    They shook because he was angry.
⁸ Smoke came from his nose.
    Burning flames came from his mouth.
    Red-hot coals fell from him.
⁹ He tore open the sky and came down!
    He stood on a thick, dark cloud.
¹⁰ He flew across the sky, riding on a Cherub angel
    racing on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He wrapped himself in darkness that covered him like a tent.
    He was hidden by dark clouds heavy with water.
¹² Out of the brightness before him,
    hail broke through the clouds with flashes of lightning.
¹³ The Lord thundered from the sky;
    God Most High let his voice be heard.^[c]
14 He scattered his enemies with his arrows—
    the lightning bolts that threw them into confusion.

¹⁵ Lord, you shouted your command,
    and a powerful wind began to blow.^[d]
Then the bottom of the sea could be seen,
    and the earth’s foundations were uncovered.

¹⁶ He reached down from above and grabbed me.
    He pulled me from the deep water.
¹⁷ He saved me from my powerful enemies, who hated me.
    They were too strong for me, so he saved me.
¹⁸ They attacked me in my time of trouble,
    but the Lord was there to support me.
¹⁹ He was pleased with me, so he rescued me.
    He took me to a safe place.
²⁰ The Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
    He was good to me because I am innocent.
²¹ The Lord did this because I have obeyed him.
    I have not turned against my God.
²² I always remembered his laws.
    I never rejected his rules.
²³ He knows I did nothing that was wrong.
    I have kept myself from sinning.
²⁴ So the Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
    He could see that I am innocent.

²⁵ Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful.
    You are good to those who are good.