Psalm 18[a](A)

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

I love you, Lord, my strength.(B)

The Lord is my rock,(C) my fortress(D) and my deliverer;(E)
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(F)
    my shield[b](G) and the horn[c] of my salvation,(H) my stronghold.

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,(I)
    and I have been saved from my enemies.(J)
The cords of death(K) entangled me;
    the torrents(L) of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death(M) confronted me.

In my distress(N) I called to the Lord;(O)
    I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;(P)
    my cry came(Q) before him, into his ears.
The earth trembled(R) and quaked,(S)
    and the foundations of the mountains shook;(T)
    they trembled because he was angry.(U)
Smoke rose from his nostrils;(V)
    consuming fire(W) came from his mouth,
    burning coals(X) blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down;(Y)
    dark clouds(Z) were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim(AA) and flew;
    he soared(AB) on the wings of the wind.(AC)
11 He made darkness his covering,(AD) his canopy(AE) around him—
    the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence(AF) clouds advanced,
    with hailstones(AG) and bolts of lightning.(AH)
13 The Lord thundered(AI) from heaven;
    the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
14 He shot his arrows(AJ) and scattered the enemy,
    with great bolts of lightning(AK) he routed them.(AL)
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
    and the foundations(AM) of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke,(AN) Lord,
    at the blast of breath from your nostrils.(AO)

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.(AP)
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,(AQ)
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.(AR)
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,(AS)
    but the Lord was my support.(AT)
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;(AU)
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.(AV)

20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;(AW)
    according to the cleanness of my hands(AX) he has rewarded me.(AY)
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;(AZ)
    I am not guilty of turning(BA) from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;(BB)
    I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless(BC) before him
    and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,(BD)
    according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 To the faithful(BE) you show yourself faithful,(BF)
    to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure(BG) you show yourself pure,
    but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.(BH)
27 You save the humble(BI)
    but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.(BJ)
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp(BK) burning;
    my God turns my darkness into light.(BL)
29 With your help(BM) I can advance against a troop[e];
    with my God I can scale a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect:(BN)
    The Lord’s word is flawless;(BO)
    he shields(BP) all who take refuge(BQ) in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?(BR)
    And who is the Rock(BS) except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength(BT)
    and keeps my way secure.(BU)
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;(BV)
    he causes me to stand on the heights.(BW)
34 He trains my hands for battle;(BX)
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains(BY) me;
    your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path(BZ) for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.(CA)

37 I pursued my enemies(CB) and overtook them;
    I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them(CC) so that they could not rise;(CD)
    they fell beneath my feet.(CE)
39 You armed me with strength(CF) for battle;
    you humbled my adversaries(CG) before me.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs(CH) in flight,
    and I destroyed(CI) my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them(CJ)
    to the Lord, but he did not answer.(CK)
42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust;(CL)
    I trampled them[f] like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
    you have made me the head of nations.(CM)
People I did not know(CN) now serve me,
44     foreigners(CO) cower before me;
    as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
45 They all lose heart;(CP)
    they come trembling(CQ) from their strongholds.(CR)

46 The Lord lives!(CS) Praise be to my Rock!(CT)
    Exalted be God(CU) my Savior!(CV)
47 He is the God who avenges(CW) me,
    who subdues nations(CX) under me,
48     who saves(CY) me from my enemies.(CZ)
You exalted me above my foes;
    from a violent man(DA) you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;(DB)
    I will sing(DC) the praises of your name.(DD)

50 He gives his king great victories;
    he shows unfailing love to his anointed,(DE)
    to David(DF) and to his descendants forever.(DG)

Psalm 19[g]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens(DH) declare(DI) the glory of God;(DJ)
    the skies(DK) proclaim the work of his hands.(DL)
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.(DM)
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice[h] goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.(DN)
In the heavens God has pitched a tent(DO) for the sun.(DP)
    It is like a bridegroom(DQ) coming out of his chamber,(DR)
    like a champion(DS) rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens(DT)
    and makes its circuit to the other;(DU)
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord(DV) is perfect,(DW)
    refreshing the soul.(DX)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(DY)
    making wise the simple.(DZ)
The precepts of the Lord are right,(EA)
    giving joy(EB) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.(EC)
The fear of the Lord(ED) is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.(EE)

10 They are more precious than gold,(EF)
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,(EG)
    than honey from the honeycomb.(EH)
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.(EI)
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;(EJ)
    may they not rule over me.(EK)
Then I will be blameless,(EL)
    innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing(EM) in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock(EN) and my Redeemer.(EO)

Psalm 20[i]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;(EP)
    may the name of the God of Jacob(EQ) protect you.(ER)
May he send you help(ES) from the sanctuary(ET)
    and grant you support(EU) from Zion.(EV)
May he remember(EW) all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.[j](EX)
May he give you the desire of your heart(EY)
    and make all your plans succeed.(EZ)
May we shout for joy(FA) over your victory
    and lift up our banners(FB) in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.(FC)

Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.(FD)
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.(FE)
Some trust in chariots(FF) and some in horses,(FG)
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.(FH)
They are brought to their knees and fall,(FI)
    but we rise up(FJ) and stand firm.(FK)
Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us(FL) when we call!

Psalm 21[k]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.(FM)
    How great is his joy in the victories you give!(FN)

You have granted him his heart’s desire(FO)
    and have not withheld the request of his lips.[l]
You came to greet him with rich blessings
    and placed a crown of pure gold(FP) on his head.(FQ)
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
    length of days, for ever and ever.(FR)
Through the victories(FS) you gave, his glory is great;
    you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.(FT)
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
    and made him glad with the joy(FU) of your presence.(FV)
For the king trusts in the Lord;(FW)
    through the unfailing love(FX) of the Most High(FY)
    he will not be shaken.(FZ)

Your hand will lay hold(GA) on all your enemies;
    your right hand will seize your foes.
When you appear for battle,
    you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,
    and his fire will consume them.(GB)
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
    their posterity from mankind.(GC)
11 Though they plot evil(GD) against you
    and devise wicked schemes,(GE) they cannot succeed.
12 You will make them turn their backs(GF)
    when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13 Be exalted(GG) in your strength, Lord;(GH)
    we will sing and praise your might.

Psalm 22[m]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?(GI)
    Why are you so far(GJ) from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?(GK)
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,(GL)
    by night,(GM) but I find no rest.[n]

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;(GN)
    you are the one Israel praises.[o](GO)
In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.(GP)
To you they cried out(GQ) and were saved;
    in you they trusted(GR) and were not put to shame.(GS)

But I am a worm(GT) and not a man,
    scorned by everyone,(GU) despised(GV) by the people.
All who see me mock me;(GW)
    they hurl insults,(GX) shaking their heads.(GY)
“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
    “let the Lord rescue him.(GZ)
Let him deliver him,(HA)
    since he delights(HB) in him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;(HC)
    you made me trust(HD) in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth(HE) I was cast on you;
    from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,(HF)
    for trouble is near(HG)
    and there is no one to help.(HH)

12 Many bulls(HI) surround me;(HJ)
    strong bulls of Bashan(HK) encircle me.
13 Roaring lions(HL) that tear their prey(HM)
    open their mouths wide(HN) against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.(HO)
My heart has turned to wax;(HP)
    it has melted(HQ) within me.
15 My mouth[p] is dried up like a potsherd,(HR)
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;(HS)
    you lay me in the dust(HT) of death.

16 Dogs(HU) surround me,
    a pack of villains encircles me;
    they pierce[q](HV) my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
    people stare(HW) and gloat over me.(HX)
18 They divide my clothes among them
    and cast lots(HY) for my garment.(HZ)

19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.(IA)
    You are my strength;(IB) come quickly(IC) to help me.(ID)
20 Deliver me from the sword,(IE)
    my precious life(IF) from the power of the dogs.(IG)
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;(IH)
    save me from the horns of the wild oxen.(II)

22 I will declare your name to my people;
    in the assembly(IJ) I will praise you.(IK)
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!(IL)
    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!(IM)
    Revere him,(IN) all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised(IO) or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;(IP)
he has not hidden his face(IQ) from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.(IR)

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;(IS)
    before those who fear you[r] I will fulfill my vows.(IT)
26 The poor will eat(IU) and be satisfied;
    those who seek the Lord will praise him—(IV)
    may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth(IW)
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    will bow down before him,(IX)
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord(IY)
    and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich(IZ) of the earth will feast and worship;(JA)
    all who go down to the dust(JB) will kneel before him—
    those who cannot keep themselves alive.(JC)
30 Posterity(JD) will serve him;
    future generations(JE) will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,(JF)
    declaring to a people yet unborn:(JG)
    He has done it!(JH)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 18:1 In Hebrew texts 18:1-50 is numbered 18:2-51.
  2. Psalm 18:2 Or sovereign
  3. Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  4. Psalm 18:13 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Samuel 22:14); most Hebrew manuscripts resounded, / amid hailstones and bolts of lightning
  5. Psalm 18:29 Or can run through a barricade
  6. Psalm 18:42 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac and Targum (see also 2 Samuel 22:43); Masoretic Text I poured them out
  7. Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
  8. Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line
  9. Psalm 20:1 In Hebrew texts 20:1-9 is numbered 20:2-10.
  10. Psalm 20:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  11. Psalm 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-13 is numbered 21:2-14.
  12. Psalm 21:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  13. Psalm 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1-31 is numbered 22:2-32.
  14. Psalm 22:2 Or night, and am not silent
  15. Psalm 22:3 Or Yet you are holy, / enthroned on the praises of Israel
  16. Psalm 22:15 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text strength
  17. Psalm 22:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text me, / like a lion
  18. Psalm 22:25 Hebrew him

18 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

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.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon 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 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy 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 hath 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 mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee 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 girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued mine 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 thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto 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 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast 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 unto me.

45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

20 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.

21 The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.

He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.

For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.

Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.

13 Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.

29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

God the Sovereign Savior(A)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David (B)the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of (C)this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:

18 I (D)will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my [a]strength, (E)in whom I will trust;
My shield and the [b]horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, (F)who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

(G)The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of [c]ungodliness made me afraid.
The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

(H)Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
(I)He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10 (J)And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
(K)He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place;
(L)His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12 (M)From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered (N)His voice,
[d]Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 (O)He sent out His arrows and scattered [e]the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 (P)He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
19 (Q)He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

20 (R)The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has 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 blameless [f]before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 (S)Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 (T)With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And (U)with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down (V)haughty looks.

28 (W)For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can [g]run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, (X)His way is perfect;
(Y)The word of the Lord is [h]proven;
He is a shield (Z)to all who trust in Him.

31 (AA)For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32 It is God who (AB)arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33 (AC)He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And (AD)sets me on my high places.
34 (AE)He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me,
(AF)So my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have [i]subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
(AG)Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I (AH)cast them out like dirt in the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
(AI)You have made me the head of the [j]nations;
(AJ)A people I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners [k]submit to me.
45 (AK)The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.

46 The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me,
(AL)And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies.
(AM)You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 (AN)Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the [l]Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

50 (AO)Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his [m]descendants forevermore.

The Perfect Revelation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The (AP)heavens declare the glory of God;
And the (AQ)firmament[n] shows [o]His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
(AR)Their [p]line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a [q]tabernacle for the sun,
Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
(AS)And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

(AT)The law of the Lord is perfect, [r]converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making (AU)wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than (AV)gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the [s]honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors?
(AW)Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from (AX)presumptuous sins;
Let them not have (AY)dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of [t]great transgression.

14 (AZ)Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my [u]strength and my (BA)Redeemer.

The Assurance of God’s Saving Work

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

20 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob [v]defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And (BB)fulfill all your [w]purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the Lord saves His [x]anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in (BC)horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.

Joy in the Salvation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

21 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord;
And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
You have given him his heart’s desire,
And have not withheld the (BD)request of his lips. Selah

For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;
You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
(BE)He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—
Length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great in Your salvation;
Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
For You have made him most blessed forever;
(BF)You have made him [y]exceedingly glad with Your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord,
And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be [z]moved.

Your hand will find all Your enemies;
Your right hand will find those who hate You.
You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger;
The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath,
And the fire shall devour them.
10 Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth,
And their [aa]descendants from among the sons of men.
11 For they intended evil against You;
They devised a plot which they are not able to (BG)perform.
12 Therefore You will make them turn their back;
You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.

13 Be exalted, O Lord, in Your own strength!
We will sing and praise Your power.

The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah

To the Chief Musician. Set to [ab]“The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

22 My (BH)God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.

But You are holy,
Enthroned in the (BI)praises of Israel.
Our fathers trusted in You;
They trusted, and You delivered them.
They cried to You, and were delivered;
(BJ)They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

But I am (BK)a worm, and no man;
(BL)A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
(BM)All those who see Me ridicule Me;
They [ac]shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
“He(BN) [ad]trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him;
(BO)Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

(BP)But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother’s womb
(BQ)You have been My God.
11 Be not far from Me,
For trouble is near;
For there is none to help.

12 (BR)Many bulls have surrounded Me;
Strong bulls of (BS)Bashan have encircled Me.
13 (BT)They [ae]gape at Me with their mouths,
Like a raging and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,
(BU)And all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It has melted [af]within Me.
15 (BV)My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And (BW)My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
(BX)They[ag] pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones.
(BY)They look and stare at Me.
18 (BZ)They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword,
(CA)My[ah] precious life from the power of the dog.
21 (CB)Save Me from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!

(CC)You have answered Me.

22 (CD)I will declare Your name to (CE)My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 (CF)You who fear the Lord, praise Him!
All you [ai]descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But (CG)when He cried to Him, He heard.

25 (CH)My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
(CI)I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
Let your heart live forever!

27 All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the [aj]nations
Shall worship before [ak]You.
28 (CJ)For the kingdom is the Lord’s,
And He rules over the nations.

29 (CK)All the prosperous of the earth
Shall eat and worship;
(CL)All those who go down to [al]the dust
Shall bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep himself alive.

30 A posterity shall serve Him.
It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
That He has done this.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 18:2 Lit. rock
  2. Psalm 18:2 Strength
  3. Psalm 18:4 Lit. Belial
  4. Psalm 18:13 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; a few Heb. mss., LXX omit Hailstones and coals of fire
  5. Psalm 18:14 Lit. them
  6. Psalm 18:23 with
  7. Psalm 18:29 Or run through
  8. Psalm 18:30 Lit. refined
  9. Psalm 18:39 Lit. caused to bow
  10. Psalm 18:43 Gentiles
  11. Psalm 18:44 feign submission
  12. Psalm 18:49 nations
  13. Psalm 18:50 Lit. seed
  14. Psalm 19:1 expanse of heaven
  15. Psalm 19:1 the work of His hands
  16. Psalm 19:4 LXX, Syr., Vg. sound; Tg. business
  17. Psalm 19:4 tent
  18. Psalm 19:7 restoring
  19. Psalm 19:10 honey in the combs
  20. Psalm 19:13 Or much
  21. Psalm 19:14 Lit. rock
  22. Psalm 20:1 Lit. set you on high
  23. Psalm 20:4 counsel
  24. Psalm 20:6 Commissioned one, Heb. messiah
  25. Psalm 21:6 Lit. joyful with gladness
  26. Psalm 21:7 shaken
  27. Psalm 21:10 Lit. seed
  28. Psalm 22:1 Heb. Aijeleth Hashahar
  29. Psalm 22:7 Show contempt with their mouth
  30. Psalm 22:8 LXX, Syr., Vg. hoped; Tg. praised
  31. Psalm 22:13 Lit. have opened their mouths at Me
  32. Psalm 22:14 Lit. in the midst of My bowels
  33. Psalm 22:16 So with some Heb. mss., LXX, Syr., Vg.; MT Like a lion instead of They pierced
  34. Psalm 22:20 Lit. My only one
  35. Psalm 22:23 Lit. seed
  36. Psalm 22:27 Gentiles
  37. Psalm 22:27 So with MT, LXX, Tg.; Arab., Syr., Vg. Him
  38. Psalm 22:29 Death