Psalms 18
18
# 18 This magnificent poem is so important to the Holy Spirit that it appears twice in the Bible. You will also find it in 2 Sam. 22. I Love You, Lord
A song # 18 There are fifty psalms that are described as “a song” in the inscription, and each one is a power song of victory and breakthrough. to the Pure and Shining One by King David, his servant, composed when the Lord rescued David from all his many enemies, including from the brutality of Saul. # 18 Or “the paw of Saul.” Saul was like a beast that chased David until his death. He said:
1I love you, Yahweh, and I’m bonded to you, # 18:1 David didn’t employ the common Hebrew word for “love,” ‘ahav, but instead used the Hebrew word for “pity” or “mercy.” How could David have mercy for God? The word he used, racham, is the word for a mother who loves and pities her child so much it manifests with a deep love and emotional bond. This concept, although difficult to convey in English, carries the thought of embrace and touch. It could actually be translated “Lord, I want to hug you.” Haven’t you ever felt like that?
my strength!
2Yahweh, you’re the bedrock beneath my feet,
my faith-fortress, my wonderful deliverer,
my God, my rock of rescue where none can reach me.
You’re the shield around me,
the mighty power # 18:2 Or “horn” (i.e., horn of my salvation), which comes from a root word meaning “ray of brightness.” that saves me,
and my high place.
3All I need to do is to call on you,
Yahweh, the praiseworthy God.
When I do, I’m safe and sound in you—
delivered from my foes!
4-5For when the cords of death wrapped around me
and torrents of destruction overwhelmed me, # 18:4–5 Or “waves of Sheol [death] engulfed me.” See 2 Sam. 22:5.
taking me to death’s door,
6in my distress I cried out to you, the delivering God,
and from your temple-throne you heard my troubled cry,
and my sobs went right into your heart. # 18:6 This scene is not only a poetic portrayal of how God answered David’s prayer, but also a picture of the sufferings of a greater Son of David, Jesus, who hung on the cross with cries of agony. God heard him and shook the planet as thick clouds covered the sun.
7The earth itself shivered and shook.
It reeled and rocked before him.
As the mountains trembled, they melted away,
for his anger was kindled on my behalf!
8Fierce flames leapt from his mouth, # 18:8 Or “nostrils.”
erupting with blazing, burning coals as smoke
and fire encircled him.
9-10He stretched heaven’s curtain open and came to my defense.
Swiftly he rode to earth as the stormy sky was lowered.
He rode a chariot of thunderclouds amidst thick darkness;
his steed was a cherub,
soaring on outstretched wings of Spirit-Wind.
11Wrapped in the thick-cloud darkness,
his thunder-tabernacle surrounded him.
He hid himself in mystery-darkness;
the dense rain clouds were his garments.
12Suddenly the brilliance of his presence broke through
with lightning bolts and hail—
a tempest dropping coals of fire.
13The Lord thundered; the great God above every god
spoke with his thunder-voice from the sky.
The Most High uttered his voice!
14He released his lightning-arrows, and routed my foes.
See how they ran and scattered in fear!
15Then with his mighty roar he laid bare the foundations of the earth,
uncovering the secret source of the sea.
The hidden depths of land and sea were exposed
by the blast of his hot breath.
16He rescued me from the mighty waters
and drew me to himself!
17Even though I was helpless in the hands
of my hateful, strong enemy, # 18:17 Death is our strong enemy. Only through Christ are we delivered from its grip.
you were good to deliver me.
18When I was at my weakest, # 18:18 Or “In the day of my calamity.” my enemies attacked—
but the Lord held on to me.
19His love broke open the way,
and he brought me into a beautiful, broad place. # 18:19 This could be the throne room of heaven.
He rescued me—because his delight is in me! # 18:19 Here in verses 16–19 you can see the glorious resurrection of Christ as the Father reached down and kissed the Son with life and love. Read it again and think of Christ in the tomb being raised by the Father.
20He rewarded me for doing what’s right and staying pure.
21I will follow his commands and
I’ll not sin by ceasing to follow him, no matter what.
22For I’ve kept my eyes focused on his righteous words,
and I’ve obeyed everything that he’s told me to do.
23I’ve been blameless before him and followed all his ways,
keeping my heart pure.
24And so Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
because I kept my heart clean before his eyes.
25Good people will taste your goodness.
And to those who are loyal to you,
you love to prove that you are loyal and true.
26And for those who are purified, they find you always pure.
But you’ll outwit the crooked and cunning with your craftiness.
27To the humble you bring heaven’s deliverance,
but the proud and haughty you disregard.
28God, all at once you turned on a floodlight for me!
You are the revelation-light in my darkness,
and in your brightness I can see the path ahead.
29With you as my strength I can crush an enemy horde,
advancing through every stronghold that stands in front of me. # 18:29 Or “by my God I can jump over a wall.”
30Yahweh, what a perfect God you are!
All Yahweh’s promises have proven true.
What a secure shelter for all those
who turn to hide themselves in you,
the wraparound God. # 18:30 The Hebrew word used here (often translated “shield”) means “to wrap around in protection.” God himself is our shield of grace.
31Could there be any other god like Yahweh?
For there is not a more secure foundation # 18:31 Or “rocky cliff.” than you.
32God, you have wrapped me in power
and made my way perfect.
33Through you I ascend to the highest peaks
to stand strong and secure in you. # 18:33 Or “You make my legs like a deer to stand firm on the heights.”
34You’ve trained me with the weapons of warfare-worship;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You empower me for victory with your wraparound presence.
Your power within makes me strong to subdue.
By stooping down in gentleness,
you made me great!
36You’ve set me free, and now I’m standing complete,
ready to fight some more!
37I caught up with my enemies and conquered them
and didn’t turn back until the war was won!
38I smashed them to pieces and
I finished them once and for all; they’re as good as dead.
39You’ve placed your armor upon me
and made my enemies bow low at my feet.
40You’ve made them all turn tail and run,
for through you I’ve destroyed them all!
41They shouted for help, but no one dared to rescue them.
They cried out to Yahweh, but he refused to answer them.
42So I pulverized them to powder and cast them to the wind.
I swept them away like dirt on the floor.
43You gave me victory on every side,
for you make me a leader of nations.
Even those I’ve never heard of come and bow at my feet.
44As soon as they heard of me they submitted to me.
Even the rebel foreigners obey my every word.
45Their rebellion fades away as they come near;
trembling in their strongholds,
they come crawling out of their hideouts,
cringing in fear before me.
46Yahweh lives!
Praise is lifted high to the unshakable God!
Towering over all, my Savior-God is worthy to be praised!
47Look how he pays back harm to all who harm me,
subduing all who come against me.
48He rescues me from my enemies;
he lifts me up high and keeps me out of reach,
far from the grasp of my violent foe.
49So I thank you, Yahweh, with my praises!
I will sing my song to the highest God,
so all among the nations will hear me. # 18:49 Paul quoted this verse as one of four prophecies to show that Christ came for all people, not just the Jews. See Rom. 15:9.
50You have given me, your king, great victories.
You’ve always been tender and kind to me, your anointed one,
your loving servant, David, and to all my descendants!
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Psalms 18: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 18
18
PSALM 18
1 To victory, the word of the Lord to David, which spake the words of this song, in the day in which the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul; and he said: Lord, my strength, I shall love thee#18:1 Compare Psalm 18:1-50 to 2nd Samuel 22:1-51.;
2the Lord is my steadfastness, and my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is mine helper; and I shall hope in him. My defender, and the horn of mine health; and mine up-taker.
3I shall praise, and inwardly call the Lord; and I shall be safe from mine enemies.
4The sorrows of death encompassed me; and the strands [or streams] of wickedness have troubled me.
5The sorrows of hell encompassed me; the snares of death before-occupied me.
6In my tribulation I inwardly called the Lord; and I cried to my God. And he heard my voice from his holy temple; and my cry in his sight entered into his ears.
7The earth was moved together, and trembled greatly; the foundaments of hills were troubled altogether, and moved together, for he was wroth to them.
8Smoke went up in the ire [or wrath] of the Lord, and fire burnt out from his face; coals were kindled of him.
9He bowed down heavens, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
10And he ascended [or went] on cherubim, and flew; he flew over the pens of winds.
11And he setted [or put] darknesses his hiding place, his tabernacle in his compass; and dark water was in the clouds of the air.
12Full clear clouds passed in his sight; hail and the coals of fire.
13And the Lord thundered from heaven; and the Highest gave his voice, hail and coals of fire.
14And he sent his arrows, and destroyed those men; he multiplied lightnings, and troubled those men.
15And the wells of waters appeared; and the foundaments of the earth were showed. Lord, of thy blaming; of the breathing of the spirit of thine ire.
16He sent from the highest place, and took me; and he took me from many waters.
17He delivered me from my strongest enemies; and from them that hated me, for they were comforted on me.
18They came before me in the day of my torment; and the Lord was made my defender.
19And he led out me into breadth; he made me safe, for he would me.
20And the Lord shall yield to me by my rightfulness [or rightwiseness]; and he shall yield to me by the cleanness of mine hands.
21For I kept the ways of the Lord; and I did not go away unfaithfully from my God.
22For all his dooms be in my sight; and I putted not away from me his rightfulnesses [or rightwisenesses].
23And I shall be unwemmed with him; and I shall keep me from my wickedness.
24And the Lord shall yield to me by my rightfulness [or rightwiseness]; and by the cleanness of mine hands in the sight of his eyes.
25With the holy, thou shalt be holy; and with an innocent man, thou shalt be innocent.
26And with a chosen man, thou shalt be chosen; and with a wayward man, thou shalt be wayward.
27For thou shalt make safe a meek people; and thou shalt make meek the eyes of proud men.
28For thou, Lord, lightenest my lantern; my God, lighten thou my darknesses.
29For by thee I shall be delivered from temptation; and in my God I shall go over the wall.
30My God, his way is undefouled; the speeches of the Lord be examined by fire; he is [the] defender of all men hoping in him.
31For why, who is God, except the Lord? either who is God, except our God?
32God that hath girded me with virtue; and hath set my way unwem-med.
33Which made perfect my feet as the feet of harts; and ordaining me on high things.
34Which teacheth mine hands to battle; and thou hast set mine arms as a brazen bow.
35And thou hast given to me the covering of thine health; and thy right hand hath up-taken me. And thy chastising amended me into the end; and that chastising of thee shall teach me.
36Thou alargedest my paces under me; and my steps be not made un-steadfast.
37I shall pursue mine enemies, and I shall take them; and I shall not turn till they fail.
38I shall all-break them, and they shall not be able to stand; they shall fall under my feet.
39And thou hast girded me with virtue to battle; and thou hast overturned under me men rising against me.
40And thou hast given mine enemies aback [or back] to me; and thou hast destroyed them that hated me.
41They cried, and none there was that made them safe; they cried to the Lord, and he heard not them.
42And I shall all-break them, as dust before the face of the wind; I shall do them away, as the clay of streets.
43Thou shalt deliver me from [the] against-sayings of the people; thou shalt set me into the head of folks. The people, which I knew not, hath served me;
44in the hearing of ear it obeyed to me. Alien sons lied down to me,
45alien sons waxed eld; and went crooked from thy paths.
46The Lord liveth, and my God be blessed; and the God of mine health be enhanced.
47God, that givest vengeances to me, and makest subject peoples under me;
48 thou art my deliverer from my wrathful enemies. And thou shalt enhance me from them, that rise against me; thou shalt deliver me from a wicked man.
49Therefore, Lord, I shall acknowl-edge to thee among nations; and I shall say psalm to thy name.
50Magnifying the healths of his king; and doing mercy to his christ David, and to his seed till into the world.
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Wycliffe’s Bible with Modern Spelling ©2017
Wycliffe’s Apocrypha ©2013, 2015
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