Psalms 18

1 I love [with all my heart, deeply] You, O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of all], my strength [power, rock, and salvation]. word study 2 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is my rock [strong fortress, foundation], my fortress [stronghold, high tower], and my deliverer [Savior, rescuer]. My God [Elohim, the supreme God] is my rock [foundation, stronghold], in whom I take refuge [trust, find shelter], my shield [buckler, protection], and the horn of my salvation [deliverance, rescue], my stronghold [high tower, refuge]. word study 3 I will call upon the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], who is worthy to be praised [deserving of honor and worship]; so shall I be saved [rescued, delivered] from my enemies [those who hate me, oppose me]. word study 4 The cords [ropes, sorrows] of death [destruction, chaos] encompassed me; the torrents [floods, surging waters] of chaos [ungodliness, evil] overwhelmed me. word study 5 The cords [ropes, grave wound] of Sheol [the place of death, grave] entangled me; the snares [nets, traps] of death [natural or violent, eternal separation] confronted [surrounded, seized] me. word study 6 In my distress [trouble, adversity] I called upon the LORD [Yehovah, my Savior]; I cried [utterly, with passion] to my God [Elohim, the Almighty] for help [rescue, salvation]. From His temple [holy dwelling place] He heard my voice [cry, supplication], and my cry [plea, lament] for His help [aid, deliverance] reached His ears [attention, presence]. word study 7 Then the earth shook [shook to and fro, trembled] and quaked [was shaken strongly], and the foundations [bases, underlying supports] of the mountains [hills, high places] trembled [moved, were troubled]; they were shaken [quaked, disturbed] because He [Yehovah] burned [was wroth, angry] with anger [wrath, intense displeasure]. word study 8 Smoke [rising like a cloud] rose from His nostrils, and consuming [devouring, fiery] fire came from His mouth; glowing [burning, fiery] coals [embers, hot sparks] blazed forth [were kindled, ignited]. word study 9 He parted [bowed, inclined] the heavens [the visible sky and the spiritual realm] and came down [descended, appeared] with dark [thick, heavy] clouds beneath [under, at His feet] His feet [a sign of His authority and power]. word study 10 He mounted [rode upon, seated on] a cherub [a heavenly creature, winged angel] and flew [soared, did fly]; He soared [flew, traveling fast] on the wings [the rushing, blowing] of the wind [a storm-cloud, the breath of God]. word study 11 He made darkness [His secret place, a hiding location] His hiding place [pavilion, a shelter], and storm clouds [dark waters, thick clouds of the skies] a canopy [a covering, a protection] around Him [encompassing Him, surrounding Him]. word study 12 From the brightness [before all, in His radiant presence] of His presence [the divine manifestation, glory] His clouds [thick, dark clouds, a sign of God’s power] advanced [passed, went forth, came from]— hailstones [ice, frozen drops] and coals [burning, glowing] of fire [divine judgment, purification]. word study 13 The LORD [the Supreme Ruler, Yehovah] thundered [uttered a loud voice, spoke in a loud voice] from heaven [the sky, the celestial realm]; the voice [sound, utterance] of the Most High [the Highest, the Almighty] resounded [sounded out, gave forth His voice]— hailstones [hail, ice stones] and coals [burning coals, hot embers] of fire [intense heat, divine judgment]. word study 14 He shot His arrows [and sent out, fired] and scattered the foes [enemies, those who oppose Him]; He hurled lightning [lightnings manifold, flashes of fire] and routed them [discomfited, caused them to run away]. word study 15 The channels [deep beds, streams] of the sea appeared, and the foundations [bases, underlying structure] of the world were exposed [laid bare, uncovered], at Your rebuke [words of wrath, stern warning], O LORD, at the blast [blowing, powerful breath] of the breath [spirit, wind] of Your nostrils. word study 16 He reached down [from heaven, on high] from on high and took hold [grabbed, rescued] of me; He drew [pulled, pulled out] me out of [many, great] deep waters [the deep ocean, a source of turmoil]. word study 17 He rescued [delivered, saved] me from my powerful [strong, mighty] enemy [hater, foe], from foes [enemies, those who hated me] too mighty [strong, many] for me [beyond my ability to defeat]. word study 18 They confronted [attacked, came upon] me in my day [time, moment] of calamity [trouble, distress], but the LORD [Yehovah, my Savior] was my support [stay, defense] [in my darkest hour, at my worst possible moment]. word study 19 He brought me out [into a large place, to a place of freedom] into the open; He rescued me [delivered, set me free] because He delighted in me [took pleasure, had favor towards me]. word study 20 The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has rewarded me according to my righteousness [innocence, moral integrity]; He has repaid me according to the cleanness [purity, blamelessness] of my hands [actions, deeds]. word study 21 For I have kept [obeyed, followed] the ways [path, journey] of the LORD [Yehovah] and have not wickedly [in a sinful, unjust manner] departed [turned away, strayed] from my God [the Almighty, my Savior]. word study 22 For [because of, since] all His ordinances [judgments, laws, commandments] are before me; I have not [in no way, never] disregarded [put away, turned from, ignored] His statutes [precepts, decrees, rules]. word study 23 And I have been blameless [upright, perfect] before [in the presence of, standing before] Him and kept [guarded, watched over] myself from [free from, apart from] iniquity [sin, wickedness]. word study 24 So the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah] has repaid me according to my righteousness [my right standing with God, innocence], according to the cleanness [purity, blamelessness] of my hands [my actions, deeds] in His sight [His eyesight, presence]. word study 25 To the faithful [those who trust, having God’s nature] You show Yourself faithful [merciful, with lovingkindness], to the blameless [upright, perfect in heart] You show Yourself blameless [with integrity, in righteousness]; word study 26 to the [morally upright, pious] pure You show Yourself [in Your true nature, holy] pure, but to the [perverse, froward] crooked You show Yourself [wise, as a wrestler] shrewd. word study 27 For You save [rescue, deliver] an afflicted [humble, oppressed] people, but You humble [bring down, cast down] those with [characterized by] haughty [proud, high] eyes [looks, gaze]. word study 28 For You, O LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah], light [enlighten, illuminate] my lamp [candle, inner light]; my God [the Lord of my life] lights up [will enlighten, makes bright] my darkness [the darkest times, troubles]. word study 29 For [because of, due to] in You [my Lord, my Savior] I can charge [run through, break through] an army [a troop, a host], and with my God [my Elohim, my divine Helper] I can scale [leap over, climb] a wall [a fortress, a stronghold]. word study 30 As for God [the supreme Elohim], His way [path, journey] is perfect [flawless, completely good]; the word [utterance, promise] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] is flawless [tried, trustworthy]. He is a shield [buckler, protector] to all who take refuge [trust, put faith] in Him. word study 31 For who is God [the supreme deity, Elohim] besides the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]? And who is the Rock except our God [the one true God, our protector]? word study 32 It is God [Eloah, the one true God] who arms [girds, equips] me with strength [power, might] and makes [renders, guides] my way [path, journey] clear [perfect, upright]. word study 33 He makes my feet [like hinds’ feet, surefooted] like those of a deer [swift and agile] and stations me [sets me firmly, establishes] upon the heights [my high places, lofty areas]. word study 34 He trains [teacheth, instructs] my hands [to be skilled] for battle [war, combat]; my arms [strength, power] can bend [bring down, break] a bow [of steel, of brass] of bronze [strong metal]. word study 35 You have given me Your shield [of protection, defense] of salvation [deliverance, rescue]; Your right hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] upholds [sustains, supports] me, and Your gentleness [loving kindness, humility] exalts [makes great, lifts up] me. word study 36 You broaden [enlarge, make wide] the path [steps, road] beneath me [under me, in my way] so that my ankles [feet, heels] do not give way [slip, slide, stumble]. word study 37 I pursued [chased, went after] my enemies [haters, those who oppose me] and overtook [caught up with, reached] them; I did not [never] turn back [return, give up] until they were [completely] consumed [destroyed, overcome]. word study 38 I crushed [struck down, wounded] them so they could not rise [be able to get up, recover]; they have fallen [lie defeated, been overthrown] under my feet [in a position of subjection, under my authority]. word study 39 You have armed [girded, empowered] me with strength [power, ability] for battle [war, conflict]; You have subdued [caused to bow, made low] my foes [enemies, those who rise up against me] beneath [under, underneath] me [at my feet]. word study 40 You have made my enemies [to turn their backs, given me the necks of] retreat before me; I put an end [destroy, cut off] to those who hated [were against me] me. word study 41 They cried [to be rescued] for help, but there was no one [none, none at all] to save them [to deliver, to set free]— to the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah], but He did not answer [respond, give a reply]. word study 42 I ground them as dust [like the dust before the wind, as small as dust] in the face of the wind [the breath of God, a gentle breeze]; I trampled them like mud [mire, clay] in the streets [the public places, the thoroughfares]. word study 43 You have delivered [rescued, set free] me from the strife [strivings, contentions] of the people; You have made me the head [ruler, leader] of nations [heathen, Gentile nations]; a people [whom I had not known, I did not previously know] I had not known shall serve [be my servants, obey] me. word study 44 When they hear [as soon as they learn of] me, they obey [submit themselves, cringe] me; foreigners [strangers, Gentiles] cower [feign obedience, bow low] before me. word study 45 Foreigners [strangers, those from other nations] lose heart [fade away, become afraid] and come trembling [shaking with fear, in surrender] from their strongholds [close places, secret chambers, forts]. word study 46 The LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] lives, and blessed [praise, extol] be my Rock [the foundation of my salvation]! And may the God [who saves me] of my salvation [deliverance, rescue] be exalted [honored, lifted up]— word study 47 the God [Eloah, the one true deity] who avenges [executes vengeance, gives punishment] me and subdues [brings under control, puts under rule] nations [peoples, countries] beneath [under, in subjection to] me, word study 48 who delivers [rescues, saves] me from my enemies [those who hate me, foes]. You exalt [lift up, set above] me above my foes [those who rise up against me]; You rescue [deliver, save] me from violent [cruel, aggressive] men [people, individuals]. word study 49 Therefore [for this reason, because of this] I will praise [give thanks, sing hymns to] You, O LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], among the nations [heathen, Gentiles]; I will sing praises [hymns, songs of adoration] to Your name [Your character, reputation]. word study 50 Great [mighty, extraordinary] salvation [deliverance, rescue] He brings [gives, provides] to His king [anointed ruler, leader]. He shows [demonstrates, extends] loving devotion [mercy, kindness, lovingkindness] to His anointed [chosen one], to David [His faithful servant] and his descendants [seed, offspring] forever [for all eternity, forevermore]. word study