I
love you, Yahweh, my strength.
Yahweh
is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer;
my
God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
my
shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
I
call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised;
and
I am saved from my enemies.
The
cords of death surrounded me.
The
floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The
cords of Sheol were around me.
The
snares of death came on me.
In
my distress I called on Yahweh,
and
cried to my God.
He
heard my voice out of his temple.
My
cry before him came into his ears.
Then
the earth shook and trembled.
The
foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken,
because
he was angry.
Smoke
went out of his nostrils.
Consuming
fire came out of his mouth.
Coals
were kindled by it.
He
bowed the heavens also, and came down.
Thick
darkness was under his feet.
He
rode on a cherub, and flew.
Yes,
he soared on the wings of the wind.
He
made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him,
darkness
of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
At
the brightness before him his thick clouds passed,
hailstones
and coals of fire.
Yahweh
also thundered in the sky.
The
Most High uttered his voice:
hailstones
and coals of fire.
He
sent out his arrows, and scattered them;
Yes,
great lightning bolts, and routed them.
Then
the channels of waters appeared.
The
foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh,
at
the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
He
sent from on high.
He
took me.
He
drew me out of many waters.
He
delivered me from my strong enemy,
from
those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
They
came on me in the day of my calamity,
but
Yahweh was my support.
He
brought me out also into a large place.
He
delivered me, because he delighted in me.
For
you will light my lamp, Yahweh.
My
God will light up my darkness.
For
by you, I advance through a troop.
By
my God, I leap over a wall.
As
for God, his way is perfect.
Yahweh’s
word is tried.
He
is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
For
who is God, except Yahweh?
Who
is a rock, besides our God,
the
God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?
He
makes my feet like deer’s feet,
and
sets me on my high places.
He
teaches my hands to war,
so
that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
You
have also given me the shield of your salvation.
Your
right hand sustains me.
Your
gentleness has made me great.
You
have enlarged my steps under me,
My
feet have not slipped.
Yahweh
lives! Blessed be my rock.
Exalted
be the God of my salvation,
even
the God who executes vengeance for me,
and
subdues peoples under me.
He
rescues me from my enemies.
Yes,
you lift me up above those who rise up against me.
You
deliver me from the violent man.
Therefore,
I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations,
and
will sing praises to your name.
He
gives great deliverance to his king,
and
shows loving kindness to his anointed,
to
David and to his offspring, forever more.
Psalm 18:1-19,
28-36, 46-50