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Yahweh Is My Rock and My Fortress

For the choir director. Of the servant of Yahweh, of David, [a]who spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

18 He said, “I love You, O Yahweh, (A)my strength.”
Yahweh is (B)my [b]rock and (C)my fortress and my (D)deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My (E)shield and the (F)horn of my salvation, my (G)stronghold.
I call upon Yahweh, who is (H)worthy to be praised,
And I am (I)saved from my enemies.

The (J)cords of death encompassed me,
And the (K)torrents of vileness [c]terrified me.
The (L)cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
In my (M)distress I called upon Yahweh,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice (N)out of His temple,
And my (O)cry for help before Him came into His ears.

Then the (P)earth shook and quaked;
And the (Q)foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
Smoke went up [d]out of His nostrils,
And (R)fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
He (S)bowed the heavens and came down
With thick (T)darkness under His feet.
10 He rode upon a (U)cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the (V)wings of the wind.
11 He made (W)darkness His hiding place, (X)His [e]canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the (Y)brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and (Z)coals of fire.
13 Yahweh also (AA)thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High gave forth His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He (AB)sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and [f]threw them into confusion.
15 Then the (AC)channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were [g]laid bare
At Your (AD)rebuke, O Yahweh,
At the blast of the (AE)breath of Your nostrils.

16 He (AF)sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of (AG)many waters.
17 He (AH)delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were (AI)too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in (AJ)the day of my disaster,
But (AK)Yahweh was my support.
19 He brought me forth also into a (AL)broad place;
He rescued me, because (AM)He delighted in me.

20 Yahweh has (AN)rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the (AO)cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
21 For I have (AP)kept the ways of Yahweh,
And have (AQ)not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all (AR)His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His (AS)statutes from me.
23 I was also [h](AT)blameless with Him,
And I (AU)kept myself from my iniquity.
24 Therefore Yahweh has (AV)recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands before His eyes.

25 With (AW)the [i]kind You show Yourself kind;
With the blameless (AX)You show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You show Yourself (AY)pure,
And with the crooked (AZ)You show Yourself [j]astute.
27 For You (BA)save an afflicted people,
But (BB)eyes which are lifted up, You bring down.
28 For You (BC)light my lamp;
Yahweh my God (BD)illumines my darkness.
29 For by You I can [k](BE)run upon a troop;
And by my God I can (BF)leap over a wall.

30 As for God, His way is [l](BG)blameless;
The (BH)word of Yahweh is [m]tried;
He is a (BI)shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31 For (BJ)who is God, but Yahweh?
And who is a (BK)rock, except our God,
32 The God who (BL)girds me with strength
And [n]makes my way [o](BM)blameless?
33 He (BN)makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
And (BO)sets me upon my high places.
34 He (BP)trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can (BQ)bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have also given me (BR)the shield of Your salvation,
And Your (BS)right hand upholds me;
And (BT)Your [p]gentleness makes me great.
36 You (BU)enlarge my steps under me,
And my (BV)ankles have not given way.

37 I (BW)pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back (BX)until they were consumed.
38 I crushed them, so that they were (BY)not able to rise;
They fell (BZ)under my feet.
39 For You have (CA)girded me with strength for battle;
You have [q](CB)subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 [r]You have also made my enemies (CC)turn their backs to me,
And I [s](CD)destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried for help, but there was (CE)none to save,
Even to Yahweh, but (CF)He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them fine as the (CG)dust before the wind;
I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the (CH)contentions of the people;
You have placed me as (CI)head of the nations;
A (CJ)people whom I have not known serve me.
44 As soon as they hear, they obey me;
Foreigners [t](CK)cower before me.
45 Foreigners (CL)fade away,
And (CM)come trembling out of their [u]fortresses.

46 Yahweh (CN)lives, and blessed be (CO)my rock;
And let (CP)the God of my salvation be lifted high,
47 The God who (CQ)executes vengeance for me,
And (CR)subdues peoples under me.
48 Who (CS)delivers me from my enemies;
Surely You (CT)lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the (CU)violent man.
49 Therefore I will (CV)give thanks to You among the nations, O Yahweh,
And I will (CW)sing praises to Your name.
50 He gives great [v](CX)salvation to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to (CY)His anointed,
To David and (CZ)his seed forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 18 Title 2 Sam 22:1-51
  2. Psalm 18:2 Or crag
  3. Psalm 18:4 Or were assailing
  4. Psalm 18:8 Or in His wrath
  5. Psalm 18:11 Or pavilion
  6. Psalm 18:14 Or routed them
  7. Psalm 18:15 Or uncovered
  8. Psalm 18:23 Or having integrity; lit complete, perfect
  9. Psalm 18:25 Or holy one
  10. Psalm 18:26 Lit twisted
  11. Psalm 18:29 Or crush a troop
  12. Psalm 18:30 v 23, note 1
  13. Psalm 18:30 Or tested, cf. Prov 30:5
  14. Psalm 18:32 Or has made
  15. Psalm 18:32 Or having integrity; lit complete
  16. Psalm 18:35 Or condescension
  17. Psalm 18:39 Lit caused to bow down
  18. Psalm 18:40 Lit And as for my enemies, You have given me their necks
  19. Psalm 18:40 Or silenced
  20. Psalm 18:44 Give feigned obedience; lit deceive me
  21. Psalm 18:45 Lit fastnesses
  22. Psalm 18:50 Lit salvations

Psalm 18

Praise for Deliverance

For the choir director. Of the servant of the Lord, David, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the power of Saul.(A) He said:

I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock,
my fortress, and my deliverer,(B)
my God, my rock where I seek refuge,
my shield(C) and the horn of my salvation,(D)
my stronghold.
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,(E)
and I was saved from my enemies.(F)

The ropes of death were wrapped around me;
the torrents of destruction terrified me.(G)
The ropes of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.(H)
I called to the Lord in my distress,
and I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,(I)
and my cry to him reached his ears.(J)

Then the earth shook and quaked;
the foundations of the mountains trembled;(K)
they shook because he burned with anger.
Smoke rose from his nostrils,
and consuming fire came from his mouth;
coals were set ablaze by it.[a](L)
He bent the heavens and came down,(M)
total darkness beneath his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.(N)
11 He made darkness his hiding place,
dark storm clouds his canopy around him.(O)
12 From the radiance of his presence,(P)
his clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals.
13 The Lord thundered from[b] heaven;
the Most High made his voice heard.[c](Q)
14 He shot his arrows and scattered them;
he hurled[d] lightning bolts and routed them.(R)
15 The depths of the sea became visible,
the foundations of the world were exposed,
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.(S)

16 He reached down from on high
and took hold of me;
he pulled me out of deep water.(T)
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me.(U)
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.(V)
19 He brought me out to a spacious place;(W)
he rescued me because he delighted in me.(X)

20 The Lord rewarded me
according to my righteousness;(Y)
he repaid me
according to the cleanness of my hands.(Z)
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord
and have not turned from my God to wickedness.(AA)
22 Indeed, I let all his ordinances guide me[e]
and have not disregarded his statutes.(AB)
23 I was blameless toward him(AC)
and kept myself from my iniquity.
24 So the Lord repaid me
according to my righteousness,(AD)
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.(AE)

25 With the faithful
you prove yourself faithful,
with the blameless
you prove yourself blameless,
26 with the pure
you prove yourself pure,
but with the crooked
you prove yourself shrewd.(AF)
27 For you rescue an oppressed people,(AG)
but you humble those with haughty eyes.(AH)
28 Lord, you light my lamp;
my God illuminates my darkness.(AI)
29 With you I can attack a barricade,[f]
and with my God I can leap over a wall.(AJ)

30 God—his way is perfect;(AK)
the word of the Lord is pure.(AL)
He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.(AM)
31 For who is God besides the Lord?(AN)
And who is a rock? Only our God.(AO)
32 God—he clothes me with strength(AP)
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer(AQ)
and sets me securely on the heights.[g](AR)
34 He trains my hands for war;(AS)
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.(AT)
35 You have given me the shield of your salvation;
your right hand upholds me,(AU)
and your humility exalts me.
36 You make a spacious place beneath me for my steps,(AV)
and my ankles do not give way.(AW)

37 I pursue my enemies and overtake them;
I do not turn back until they are wiped out.(AX)
38 I crush them, and they cannot get up;
they fall beneath my feet.(AY)
39 You have clothed me with strength for battle;(AZ)
you subdue my adversaries beneath me.(BA)
40 You have made my enemies retreat before me;[h](BB)
I annihilate those who hate me.(BC)
41 They cry for help, but there is no one to save them(BD)
they cry to the Lord, but he does not answer them.(BE)
42 I pulverize them like dust before the wind;(BF)
I trample them[i] like mud in the streets.(BG)

43 You have freed me from the feuds among the people;
you have appointed me the head of nations;(BH)
a people I had not known serve me.(BI)
44 Foreigners submit to me cringing;
as soon as they hear they obey me.(BJ)
45 Foreigners lose heart
and come trembling from their fortifications.(BK)

46 The Lord lives—blessed be my rock!
The God of my salvation is exalted.(BL)
47 God—he grants me vengeance(BM)
and subdues peoples under me.(BN)
48 He frees me from my enemies.
You exalt me above my adversaries;
you rescue me from violent men.(BO)
49 Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, Lord;
I will sing praises about your name.(BP)
50 He gives great victories to his king;(BQ)
he shows loyalty to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.(BR)

Footnotes

  1. 18:8 Or him
  2. 18:13 Some Hb mss, LXX, Tg, Jer; other Hb mss read in
  3. 18:13 Some Hb mss read voice, with hail and blazing coals
  4. 18:14 Or multiplied
  5. 18:22 Lit Indeed, all his ordinances have been in front of me
  6. 18:29 Or a ridge, or raiders
  7. 18:33 Or on my high places
  8. 18:40 Or You gave me the necks of my enemies
  9. 18:42 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Tg; other Hb mss read I poured them out

David’s Song of Deliverance

22 (A)And David spoke to Yahweh (B)the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him from the [a]hand of all his enemies and from the [b]hand of Saul. He said,

(C)Yahweh is my [c]rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
[d](D)My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My (E)shield and (F)the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and (G)my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.
I call upon Yahweh, (H)who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
For (I)the waves of death encompassed me;
(J)The torrents of [e]vileness terrorized me;
(K)The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
(L)In my distress I called upon Yahweh,
And I called to my God;
And out of His temple He heard my voice,
And my cry for help came into His ears.
Then (M)the earth shook and quaked;
(N)The foundations of heaven were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
Smoke went up [f]out of His nostrils,
(O)And fire from His mouth devoured;
(P)Coals were kindled by it.
10 He bowed the heavens and came down
With (Q)thick darkness under His feet.
11 (R)He rode on a cherub and flew;
And He [g]appeared upon (S)the wings of the wind.
12 (T)And He made darkness [h]canopies around Him,
A mass of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
13 From the brightness before Him
(U)Coals of fire were kindled.
14 (V)Yahweh thundered from heaven,
And the Most High gave forth His voice.
15 (W)And He sent out arrows, and scattered them,
Lightning, and [i]threw them into confusion.
16 Then the channels of the sea appeared,
The foundations of the world were [j]laid bare
By the rebuke of Yahweh,
(X)At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
17 (Y)He sent from on high, He took me;
(Z)He drew me out of many waters.
18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
(AA)But Yahweh was my support.
20 (AB)He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, (AC)because He delighted in me.
21 (AD)Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
(AE)According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
22 (AF)For I have kept the ways of Yahweh,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 (AG)For all His [k]judgments were before me,
And as for His statutes, I did not depart from [l]them.
24 (AH)I was also [m]blameless toward Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
25 (AI)Therefore Yahweh has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to my cleanness before His eyes.
26 (AJ)With the [n]kind You show Yourself [o]kind,
With the [p]blameless You show Yourself [q]blameless;
27 (AK)With the pure You show Yourself pure,
(AL)And with the crooked You show Yourself [r]astute.
28 (AM)And You save an afflicted people;
(AN)But Your eyes are on the haughty whom You bring down.
29 (AO)For You are my lamp, O Yahweh;
And Yahweh illumines my darkness.
30 (AP)For by You I can [s]run upon a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall.
31 (AQ)As for God, His way is [t]blameless;
(AR)The word of Yahweh is [u]tried;
(AS)He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32 (AT)For who is God, but Yahweh?
(AU)And who is a rock, but our God?
33 (AV)God is my strong fortress;
And He [v]sets the [w]blameless in [x]His way.
34 (AW)He makes [y]my feet like hinds’ feet,
(AX)And sets me on my high places.
35 (AY)He trains my hands for battle,
(AZ)So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have also given me (BA)the shield of Your salvation,
And Your answer to me makes me great.
37 (BB)You enlarge my steps under me,
And my ankles have not given way.
38 I pursued my enemies and (BC)destroyed them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
39 And I have consumed them and crushed them, so that they did not rise;
And (BD)they fell under my feet.
40 For You have girded me with strength for battle;
You have [z]subdued under me (BE)those who rose up against me.
41 [aa]You have also (BF)made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I [ab]destroyed those who hated me.
42 (BG)They looked, but there was none to save;
(BH)Even to Yahweh, but He did not answer them.
43 (BI)Then I beat them fine as the dust of the earth;
(BJ)I pulverized and stamped them as the mire of the streets.
44 (BK)You have also delivered me from the contentions of my people;
(BL)You have kept me as head of the nations;
(BM)A people whom I have not known serve me.
45 (BN)Foreigners cower before me;
As soon as they hear, they obey me.
46 Foreigners fade away,
(BO)And [ac]come trembling out of their [ad]fortresses.
47 Yahweh lives, and blessed be my rock;
And let [ae](BP)God, the rock of my salvation, be lifted high,
48 (BQ)The God who executes vengeance for me,
(BR)And brings down peoples under me,
49 Who also brings me out from my enemies;
You even lift me above (BS)those who rise up against me;
(BT)You rescue me from the violent man.
50 (BU)Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Yahweh, among the nations,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
51 (BV)He [af]gives great salvation to His king,
And (BW)shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
(BX)To David and his seed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 22:1 Lit palm
  2. 2 Samuel 22:1 Lit palm
  3. 2 Samuel 22:2 Lit crag
  4. 2 Samuel 22:3 Lit God of my rock
  5. 2 Samuel 22:5 Heb Belial
  6. 2 Samuel 22:9 Or in His wrath
  7. 2 Samuel 22:11 Many mss sped
  8. 2 Samuel 22:12 Or pavilions
  9. 2 Samuel 22:15 Or routed them
  10. 2 Samuel 22:16 Or uncovered
  11. 2 Samuel 22:23 Or judgment
  12. 2 Samuel 22:23 Lit it
  13. 2 Samuel 22:24 Or complete, having integrity
  14. 2 Samuel 22:26 Or holy
  15. 2 Samuel 22:26 Or holy
  16. 2 Samuel 22:26 Or having integrity; lit mighty
  17. 2 Samuel 22:26 Or having integrity; lit mighty
  18. 2 Samuel 22:27 Lit twisted
  19. 2 Samuel 22:30 Or crush a troop
  20. 2 Samuel 22:31 Or having integrity; lit complete, perfect
  21. 2 Samuel 22:31 Or tested, cf. Prov 30:5
  22. 2 Samuel 22:33 Or sets free
  23. 2 Samuel 22:33 Or having integrity; lit complete, perfect
  24. 2 Samuel 22:33 Or my
  25. 2 Samuel 22:34 Or His
  26. 2 Samuel 22:40 Lit caused to bow down
  27. 2 Samuel 22:41 Lit And as for my enemies, You have given me their necks
  28. 2 Samuel 22:41 Or silenced
  29. 2 Samuel 22:46 Lit gird themselves; the Heb is difficult
  30. 2 Samuel 22:46 Lit fastnesses
  31. 2 Samuel 22:47 Lit the God of the rock
  32. 2 Samuel 22:51 Or is a tower

David’s Song of Thanksgiving

22 David spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the grasp of Saul. He said:(A)

The Lord is my rock, my fortress,(B) and my deliverer,
my God,[a] my rock where I seek refuge.
My shield, the horn of my salvation,(C) my stronghold,(D) my refuge,(E)
and my Savior, you save me from violence.
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,(F)
and I was saved from my enemies.
For the waves of death engulfed me;(G)
the torrents of destruction terrified me.
The ropes of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.(H)

I called to the Lord in my distress;
I called to my God.(I)
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry for help reached his ears.
Then the earth shook and quaked;
the foundations of the heavens[b] trembled;(J)
they shook because he burned with anger.(K)
Smoke rose from his nostrils,
and consuming fire came from his mouth;
coals were set ablaze by it.[c]
10 He bent the heavens and came down,(L)
total darkness beneath his feet.
11 He rode on a cherub and flew,
soaring[d] on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness a canopy around him,
a gathering[e] of water and thick clouds.(M)
13 From the radiance of his presence,
blazing coals were ignited.
14 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the Most High made his voice heard.(N)
15 He shot arrows and scattered them;(O)
he hurled lightning bolts and routed them.(P)
16 The depths of the sea became visible,
the foundations of the world were exposed
at the rebuke of the Lord,
at the blast of the breath(Q) of his nostrils.(R)

17 He reached down from on high
and took hold of me;
he pulled me out of deep water.(S)
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out to a spacious place;(T)
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

21 The Lord rewarded me
according to my righteousness;(U)
he repaid me
according to the cleanness of my hands.(V)
22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord(W)
and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
23 Indeed, I let all his ordinances(X) guide me[f]
and have not disregarded his statutes.
24 I was blameless before him
and kept myself from my iniquity.
25 So the Lord repaid me
according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness[g] in his sight.

26 With the faithful
you prove yourself faithful,
with the blameless
you prove yourself blameless,
27 with the pure
you prove yourself pure,
but with the crooked
you prove yourself shrewd.
28 You rescue an oppressed people,(Y)
but your eyes are set against the proud—
you humble them.(Z)
29 Lord, you are my lamp;
the Lord illuminates my darkness.(AA)
30 With you I can attack a barricade,[h]
and with my God I can leap over a wall.(AB)
31 God—his way is perfect;(AC)
the word of the Lord is pure.(AD)
He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.

32 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is a rock? Only our God.
33 God is my strong refuge;[i]
he makes my way perfect.[j]
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer
and sets me securely on the[k] heights.[l]
35 He trains my hands for war;(AE)
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have given me the shield of your salvation;(AF)
your help[m] exalts me.
37 You make a spacious place beneath me for my steps,
and my ankles do not give way.
38 I pursue my enemies and destroy them;
I do not turn back until they are wiped out.
39 I wipe them out and crush them,
and they do not rise;
they fall beneath my feet.
40 You have clothed me with strength for battle;
you subdue my adversaries beneath me.(AG)
41 You have made my enemies retreat before me;[n]
I annihilate those who hate me.
42 They look, but there is no one to save them—
they look to the Lord, but he does not answer them.(AH)
43 I pulverize them like dust of the earth;
I crush them and trample them like mud in the streets.(AI)

44 You have freed me from the feuds among my people;(AJ)
you have preserved me as head of nations;
a people I had not known serve me.(AK)
45 Foreigners submit to me cringing;
as soon as they hear, they obey me.
46 Foreigners lose heart
and come trembling from their fortifications.(AL)

47 The Lord lives—blessed be my rock!
God, the rock of my salvation,(AM) is exalted.
48 God—he grants me vengeance
and casts down peoples under me.(AN)
49 He frees me from my enemies.
You exalt me above my adversaries;
you rescue me from violent men.(AO)

50 Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, Lord;
I will sing praises about your name.(AP)
51 He is a tower of salvation for[o] his king;
he shows loyalty to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. 22:3 LXX, Ps 18:2 read my God; MT reads God of
  2. 22:8 Some Hb mss, Syr, Vg read mountains; Ps 18:7
  3. 22:9 Or him
  4. 22:11 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss, Syr, Tg read he was seen
  5. 22:12 Or sieve, or mass; Hb obscure
  6. 22:23 Lit Indeed, all his ordinances have been in front of me
  7. 22:25 LXX, Syr, Vg read to the cleanness of my hands; Ps 18:24
  8. 22:30 Or a ridge, or raiders
  9. 22:33 DSS, some LXX mss, Syr, Vg read God clothes me with strength; Ps 18:32
  10. 22:33 Some LXX mss, Syr; MT reads he sets free the blameless his way; Hb obscure
  11. 22:34 LXX; some Hb mss read my; other Hb mss read his
  12. 22:34 Or on my high places
  13. 22:36 LXX reads humility; Ps 18:35
  14. 22:41 Lit you gave me the neck of my enemies
  15. 22:51 DSS read he gives great victory to