American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Psalm 18
1
I will love you, 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 on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my 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 on the LORD, and cried to 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 on a cherub, and did fly: yes, he did fly on 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
Yes, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightning, and discomfited them.
15
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your 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 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 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 my iniquity.
24
Therefore has the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25
With the merciful you will show yourself merciful; with an upright man you will show yourself upright;
26
With the pure you will show yourself pure; and with the fraudulent you will show yourself devious.
27
For you will save the afflicted people; but will bring down high looks.
28
For you will light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29
For by you 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 girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
33
He makes my feet like hinds' feet, and sets me on my high places.
34
He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.
35
You have also given me the shield of your salvation: and your right hand has held me up, and your gentleness has made me great.
36
You have enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37
I have pursued my 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 you have girded me with strength to the battle: you have subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40
You have also given me the necks of my enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41
They cried, but there was none to save them: even to 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
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; and you have 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 to me.
45
The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46
The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47
It is God that avenges me, and subdues the people under me.
48
He delivers me from my enemies: yes, you lift me up above those that rise up against me: you have delivered me from the violent man.
49
Therefore will I give thanks to you, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises to your name.
50
Great deliverance gives he to his king; and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for ever more.
Summary of Psalm 18
Psalm 18 is a long song of thanksgiving and deliverance in which David looks back upon severe danger, recognizes that God rescued him when his enemies appeared stronger than he was, and responds by praising God's power, faithfulness, protection, guidance, and justice. Traditionally associated with David and the 10th century BC, the chapter reflects the experience of a king who has survived repeated opposition and now interprets his victories not primarily as the result of personal military ability but as evidence of God's intervention and continuing faithfulness.
The psalm begins with deeply personal language of love, dependence, and trust, presenting God as David's strength, refuge, fortress, shield, and secure place. David then remembers how close he came to destruction, using dramatic imagery of death, overwhelming waters, darkness, earthquakes, storms, fire, thunder, and lightning to communicate the intensity of his former circumstances.
The turning point comes when David calls upon God and God responds.
The dramatic description of divine intervention emphasizes that God's power is greater than the forces threatening David. The imagery is deliberately enormous, portraying creation itself as responding when God acts, thereby communicating that no human enemy can ultimately compete with divine authority.
After describing his rescue, David explains that he has attempted to live faithfully before God, connecting divine deliverance with integrity, obedience, humility, and righteousness. The chapter does not present David as claiming absolute human perfection; instead, it emphasizes that he has deliberately sought to remain within God's ways and has trusted God's judgment concerning his character.
The psalm then shifts toward God's guidance and empowerment. David recognizes that God gives him strength, teaches him how to face difficult situations, establishes his steps, and enables him to overcome obstacles that would otherwise be beyond his abilities. His military victories therefore become evidence of dependence rather than self-sufficiency.
The later section expands David's experience from personal rescue to royal authority. God has established him over peoples and nations, allowing his influence to extend beyond his immediate enemies. Yet David continues to direct the praise toward God rather than himself, recognizing that his position ultimately depends upon divine support.
The historical background of the 10th century BC fits the traditional Davidic setting of warfare, political consolidation, and the establishment of Israel's monarchy, while the broader traditions represented by the psalm continued to influence Israelite worship throughout the 10th–5th centuries BC. The final reference to God's faithfulness toward David and his descendants also connects the personal experience of deliverance with the larger tradition of the Davidic royal line.
The psalm begins with deeply personal language of love, dependence, and trust, presenting God as David's strength, refuge, fortress, shield, and secure place. David then remembers how close he came to destruction, using dramatic imagery of death, overwhelming waters, darkness, earthquakes, storms, fire, thunder, and lightning to communicate the intensity of his former circumstances.
The turning point comes when David calls upon God and God responds.
The dramatic description of divine intervention emphasizes that God's power is greater than the forces threatening David. The imagery is deliberately enormous, portraying creation itself as responding when God acts, thereby communicating that no human enemy can ultimately compete with divine authority.
After describing his rescue, David explains that he has attempted to live faithfully before God, connecting divine deliverance with integrity, obedience, humility, and righteousness. The chapter does not present David as claiming absolute human perfection; instead, it emphasizes that he has deliberately sought to remain within God's ways and has trusted God's judgment concerning his character.
The psalm then shifts toward God's guidance and empowerment. David recognizes that God gives him strength, teaches him how to face difficult situations, establishes his steps, and enables him to overcome obstacles that would otherwise be beyond his abilities. His military victories therefore become evidence of dependence rather than self-sufficiency.
The later section expands David's experience from personal rescue to royal authority. God has established him over peoples and nations, allowing his influence to extend beyond his immediate enemies. Yet David continues to direct the praise toward God rather than himself, recognizing that his position ultimately depends upon divine support.
The historical background of the 10th century BC fits the traditional Davidic setting of warfare, political consolidation, and the establishment of Israel's monarchy, while the broader traditions represented by the psalm continued to influence Israelite worship throughout the 10th–5th centuries BC. The final reference to God's faithfulness toward David and his descendants also connects the personal experience of deliverance with the larger tradition of the Davidic royal line.