Psalm 18. Diligam te, Domine.

1. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. *
   The Lord is my stony rock, and my defence;
2. My Saviour, my God, and my might, in whom I will trust; *
   my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.
3. I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be praised; *
   so shall I be safe from mine enemies.
4. The sorrows of death compassed me, *
   and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid.
5. The pains of hell came about me; *
   the snares of death overtook me.
6. In my trouble I called upon the Lord, *
   and complained unto my God:
7. So he heard my voice out of his holy temple, *
   and my complaint came before him; it entered even into his ears.
8. The earth trembled and quaked, *
   the very foundations also of the hills shook, and were removed, because he was wroth.
9. There went a smoke out in his presence, *
   and a consuming fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled at it.
10. He bowed the heavens also, and came down, *
    and it was dark under his feet.
11. He rode upon the Cherubim, and did fly; *
    he came flying upon the wings of the wind.
12. He made darkness his secret place, *
    his pavilion round about him with dark water, and thick clouds to cover him.
13. At the brightness of his presence his clouds removed; *
    hailstones and coals of fire.
14. The Lord also thundered out of heaven, and the Highest gave his thunder; *
    hailstones and coals of fire.
15. He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; *
    he cast forth lightnings, and destroyed them.
16. The springs of waters were seen, and the foundations of the round world were discovered, *
    at thy chiding, O Lord, at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure.
17. He sent down from on high to fetch me, *
    and took me out of many waters.
18. He delivered me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me; *
    for they were too mighty for me.
19. They came upon me in the day of my trouble; *
    but the Lord was my upholder.
20. He brought me forth also into a place of liberty; *
    he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me.
21. The Lord rewarded me after my righteous dealing, *
    according to the cleanness of my hands did he recompense me.
22. Because I have kept the ways of the Lord, *
    and have not forsaken my God, as the wicked doth.
23. For I have an eye unto all his laws, *
    and will not cast out his commandments from me.
24. I was also uncorrupt before him, *
    and eschewed mine own wickedness.
25. Therefore the Lord rewarded me after my righteous dealing, *
    and according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
26. With the holy thou shalt be holy, *
    and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect.
27. With the clean thou shalt be clean, *
    and with the froward thou shalt be froward.
28. For thou shalt save the people that are in adversity, *
    and shalt bring down the high looks of the proud.
29. Thou also shalt light my candle; *
    the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be light.
30. For in thee I shall discomfit an host of men, *
    and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall.
31. The way of God is an undefiled way: *
    the word of the Lord also is tried in the fire; he is the defender of all them that put their trust in him.
32. For who is God, but the Lord? *
    or who hath any strength, except our God?
33. It is God that girdeth me with strength of war, *
    and maketh my way perfect.
34. He maketh my feet like harts' feet, *
    and setteth me up on high.
35. He teacheth mine hands to fight, *
    and mine arms shall bend even a bow of steel.
36. Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation; *
    thy right hand also shall hold me up, and thy loving correction shall make me great.
37. Thou shalt make room enough under me for to go, *
    that my footsteps shall not slide.
38. I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them; *
    neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them.
39. I will smite them, that they shall not be able to stand, *
    but fall under my feet.
40. Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; *
    thou shalt throw down mine enemies under me.
41. Thou hast made mine enemies also to turn their backs upon me, *
    and I shall destroy them that hate me.
42. They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them; *
    yea, even unto the Lord shall they cry, but he shall not hear them.
43. I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind: *
    I will cast them out as the clay in the streets.
44. Thou shalt deliver me from the strivings of the people, *
    and thou shalt make me the head of the nations; a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
45. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me; *
    the strangers shall feign obedience unto me.
46. The strangers shall fail, *
    and come trembling out of their strongholds.
47. The Lord liveth; and blessed be my strong helper, *
    and praised be the God of my salvation;
48. Even the God that seeth that I be avenged, *
    and subdueth the people unto me.
49. It is he that delivereth me from my cruel enemies, and setteth me up above mine adversaries: *
    thou shalt rid me from the wicked man.
50. For this cause will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, *
    and sing praises unto thy Name.
51. Great prosperity giveth he unto his King, *
    and showeth loving-kindness unto David his anointed, and unto his seed for evermore.