Psalm 18

Easy-to-Read Version

² The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, my place of safety.
    He is my God, the Rock I run to for protection.
He is my shield; by his power I am saved.^[b]
    He is my hiding place high in the hills.

³ I called to the Lord for help,
    and he saved me from my enemies!
    He is worthy of my praise!
⁴ Death had its ropes wrapped around me.
    A deadly flood was carrying me away.
⁵ The ropes of the grave wrapped around me.
    Death set its trap right there in front of me.
⁶ In my trouble I called to the Lord.
    Yes, I cried out to my God for help.
There in his temple he heard my voice.
    He heard my cry for help.
⁷ The earth shook and shivered.
    The foundations of the mountains trembled.
    They shook because he was angry.
⁸ Smoke came from his nose.
    Burning flames came from his mouth.
    Red-hot coals fell from him.
⁹ He tore open the sky and came down!
    He stood on a thick, dark cloud.
¹⁰ He flew across the sky, riding on a Cherub angel
    racing on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He wrapped himself in darkness that covered him like a tent.
    He was hidden by dark clouds heavy with water.
¹² Out of the brightness before him,
    hail broke through the clouds with flashes of lightning.
¹³ The Lord thundered from the sky;
    God Most High let his voice be heard.^[c]
14 He scattered his enemies with his arrows—
    the lightning bolts that threw them into confusion.

¹⁵ Lord, you shouted your command,
    and a powerful wind began to blow.^[d]
Then the bottom of the sea could be seen,
    and the earth’s foundations were uncovered.

¹⁶ He reached down from above and grabbed me.
    He pulled me from the deep water.
¹⁷ He saved me from my powerful enemies, who hated me.
    They were too strong for me, so he saved me.
¹⁸ They attacked me in my time of trouble,
    but the Lord was there to support me.
¹⁹ He was pleased with me, so he rescued me.
    He took me to a safe place.
²⁰ The Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
    He was good to me because I am innocent.
²¹ The Lord did this because I have obeyed him.
    I have not turned against my God.
²² I always remembered his laws.
    I never rejected his rules.
²³ He knows I did nothing that was wrong.
    I have kept myself from sinning.
²⁴ So the Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
    He could see that I am innocent.

²⁵ Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful.
    You are good to those who are good.
²⁶ You never do wrong to those who have done no wrong.
    But you outsmart the wicked, no matter how clever they are.
²⁷ You help those who are humble,
    but you humiliate the proud.
²⁸ Lord, you provide the flame for my lamp.
    You, God, turn the darkness around me into light.
²⁹ With your help I can defeat an army.
    If my God is with me, I can climb over enemy walls.

³⁰ God’s way is perfect.
    The Lord’s promise always proves to be true.
    He protects those who trust in him.
³¹ There is no God except the Lord.
    There is no Rock except our God.
³² God is the one who gives me strength.
    He clears the path I need to take.
³³ He makes my feet as steady as those of a deer.
    Even on steep mountains he keeps me from falling.
³⁴ He trains me for war
    so that my arms can bend the most powerful bow.

³⁵ Lord, you have given me your shield to protect me.
    You support me with your right hand.
    It is your help that has made me great.
³⁶ You cleared a path for my feet
    so that I could walk without stumbling.

³⁷ I chased my enemies and caught them.
    I did not stop until they were destroyed.
³⁸ I struck them down, and they could not get up again.
    They fell under my feet.
³⁹ God, you made me strong in battle.
    You made my enemies fall before me.
⁴⁰ You made my enemies turn and run away.
    I destroyed those who hated me.
⁴¹ They cried out for help,
    but there was no one to save them.
They cried out to the Lord,
    but he did not answer them.
⁴² I beat them to pieces like dust blown by the wind.
    I smashed them like mud in the streets.

⁴³ You saved me from those who fought against me.
    You made me the ruler over nations.
    People I never knew now serve me.
⁴⁴ As soon as they heard about me, they were ready to obey.
    Those foreigners fall helpless before me!
⁴⁵ They lose all their courage
    and come out of their hiding places shaking with fear.

⁴⁶ The Lord lives!
    I praise my Rock, the God who saves me.
    How great he is!
⁴⁷ He is the God who punishes my enemies for me,
    the one who puts people under my control.
⁴⁸ He saves me from my enemies!

You, Lord, help me defeat those who attack me.
    You save me from cruel people.
⁴⁹ Lord, that is why I praise you among the nations.
    That is why I sing songs of praise to your name.

⁵⁰ The Lord helps his king win battle after battle.
    He shows his faithful love to his chosen one,^[e]
    to David and his descendants forever.