Psalms
Chapter 18
1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David the servant of HaShem, who
spoke unto HaShem the words of this song in the day that HaShem delivered him
from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul;
2 And he said: I love thee, O HaShem, my strength.
3 HaShem is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my
G-d, my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high
tower.
4 Praised, I cry, is HaShem, and I am saved from mine
enemies.
5 The cords of Death compassed me, and the floods of Belial
assailed me.
6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death
confronted me.
7 In my distress I called upon HaShem, and cried unto my G-d;
out of His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came before Him unto His ears.
8 Then the earth did shake and quake, the foundations also of
the mountains did tremble; they were shaken, because He was wroth.
9 Smoke arose up in His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth
did devour; coals flamed forth from Him.
10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick
darkness was under His feet.
11 And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, He did swoop
down upon the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness His hiding-place, His pavilion round
about Him; darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
13 At the brightness before Him, there passed through His
thick clouds hailstones and coals of fire.
14 HaShem also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High
gave forth His voice; hailstones and coals of fire.
15 And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them; and He
shot forth lightnings, and discomfited them.
16 And the channels of waters appeared, and the foundations
of the world were laid bare, at Thy rebuke, O HaShem, at the blast of the breath
of Thy nostrils.
17 He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many
waters.
18 He delivered me from mine enemy most strong, and from them
that hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but HaShem
was a stay unto me.
20 He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered
me, because He delighted in me.
21 HaShem rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.
22 For I have kept the ways of HaShem, and have not wickedly
departed from my G-d.
23 For all His ordinances were before me, and I put not away
His statutes from me.
24 And I was single-hearted with Him, and I kept myself from
mine iniquity.
25 Therefore hath HaShem recompensed me according to my
righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.
26 With the merciful Thou dost show Thyself merciful, with
the upright man Thou dost show Thyself upright;
27 With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; and with the
crooked Thou dost show Thyself subtle.
28 For Thou dost save the afflicted people; but the haughty
eyes Thou dost humble.
29 For Thou dost light my lamp; HaShem my G-d doth lighten my
darkness.
30 For by Thee I run upon a troop; and by my G-d do I scale a
wall.
31 As for G-d, His way is perfect; the word of HaShem is
tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him.
32 For who is G-d, save HaShem? And who is a Rock, except our
G-d?
33 The G-d that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way
straight;
34 Who maketh my feet like hinds', and setteth me upon my
high places;
35 Who traineth my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a
bow of brass.
36 Thou hast also given me Thy shield of salvation, and Thy
right hand hath holden me up; and Thy condescension hath made me great.
37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and my feet have not
slipped.
38 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them; neither
did I turn back till they were consumed.
39 I have smitten them through, so that they are not able to
rise; they are fallen under my feet.
40 For Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle;
Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
41 Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me,
and I did cut off them that hate me.
42 They cried, but there was none to save; even unto HaShem,
but He answered them not.
43 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I
did cast them out as the mire of the streets.
44 Thou hast delivered me from the contentions of the people;
Thou hast made me the head of the nations; a people whom I have not known serve
me.
45 As soon as they hear of me, they obey me; the sons of the
stranger dwindle away before me.
46 The sons of the stranger fade away, and come trembling out
of their close places.
47 HaShem liveth, and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the
G-d of my salvation;
48 Even the G-d that executeth vengeance for me, and subdueth
peoples under me.
49 He delivereth me from mine enemies; yea, Thou liftest me
up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.
50 Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O HaShem, among
the nations, and will sing praises unto Thy name.
51 Great salvation giveth He to His king; and showeth mercy
to His anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore.
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