Psalm 18:6-31

Contemporary English Version

⁷ The earth shook and shivered,
and the mountains trembled
    down to their roots.
You were angry
⁸     and breathed out smoke.
Scorching heat and fiery flames
    spewed from your mouth.

⁹ You opened the heavens
    like curtains,
and you came down
with storm clouds
    under your feet.
¹⁰ You rode on the backs
    of flying creatures
and swooped down
    with the wind as wings.
¹¹ Darkness was your robe;
thunderclouds filled the sky,
    hiding you from sight.
¹² Hailstones and fiery coals
lit up the sky
    in front of you.

¹³ Lord Most High, your voice
    thundered from the heavens,
as hailstones and fiery coals
    poured down like rain.
¹⁴ You scattered your enemies
    with arrows of lightning.
¹⁵ You roared at the sea,
and its deepest channels
    could be seen.
You snorted,
and the earth shook
    to its foundations.

¹⁶ You reached down from heaven,
and you lifted me
    from deep in the ocean.
¹⁷ You rescued me from enemies,
who were hateful
    and too powerful for me.
¹⁸ On the day disaster struck,
they came and attacked,
    but you defended me.
¹⁹ When I was fenced in,
you freed and rescued me
    because you love me.

²⁰ You are good to me, Lord,
    because I do right,
and you reward me
    because I am innocent.
²¹ I do what you want
    and never turn to do evil.
²² I keep your laws in mind
and never look away
    from your teachings.
²³ I obey you completely
    and guard against sin.
²⁴ You have been good to me
    because I do right;
you have rewarded me
for being innocent
    by your standards.

²⁵ You are always loyal
    to your loyal people,
and you are faithful
    to the faithful.
²⁶ With all who are sincere,
    you are sincere,
but you treat the unfaithful
    as their deeds deserve.
²⁷ You rescue the humble,
but you put down all
    who are proud.

²⁸ You, the Lord God,
keep my lamp burning
    and turn darkness to light.
²⁹ You help me defeat armies
    and capture cities.

³⁰ Your way is perfect, Lord,
    and your word is correct.
You are a shield for those
    who run to you for help.
³¹ You alone are God!
    Only you are a mighty rock.^[a]