Psalm 18 in Puritan & Reformed Writings

[1] I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. [2] 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. [3] I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. [4] The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. [5] The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. [6] 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. [7] Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. [8] There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. [9] 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.