For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, I love you, LORD, my strength

The Psalm

Psalms. Chapter 18. For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD 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 the LORD, 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 the LORD, 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. The LORD also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out his arrows, and scattered them. He routed them with great lightning bolts. Then the channels of waters appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, LORD, 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 the LORD was my support. He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, he has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away his statutes from me. I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. For you will save the afflicted people, but the arrogant eyes you will bring down. For you will light my lamp, LORD. 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. The LORD’s word is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, except the LORD? 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. I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. I won’t turn away until they are consumed. I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet. For you have armed me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. They cried, but there was no one to save; even to the LORD, but he didn’t answer them. Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets. You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me. The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their strongholds. The LORD 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, LORD, amongst 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.

Worship Lyrics

For the Chief Musician
By David the servant of the LORD
Who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies
And from the hand of Saul
He said, I love you, LORD, my strength
The LORD 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 the LORD, 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 the LORD, 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
The LORD also thundered in the sky
The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire
He sent out his arrows, and scattered them
He routed them with great lightning bolts
Then the channels of waters appeared
The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke LORD
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 the LORD was my support
He brought me out also into a large place
He delivered me, because he delighted in me
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness
According to the cleanness of my hands, he has recompensed me
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God
For all his ordinances were before me
I didnt put away his statutes from me
I was also blameless with him
I kept myself from my iniquity
Therefore the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness
According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight
With the merciful you will show yourself merciful
With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect
With the pure, you will show yourself pure
With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd
For you will save the afflicted people
But the arrogant eyes you will bring down
For you will light my lamp, LORD
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
The LORDs word is tried
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him
For who is God, except the LORD
Who is a rock, besides our God
The God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect
He makes my feet like deers 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
I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them
I wont turn away until they are consumed
I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise
They shall fall under my feet
For you have armed me with strength to the battle
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me
You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me
They cried, but there was no one to save
Even to the LORD, but he didnt answer them
Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind
I cast them out as the mire of the streets
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people
You have made me the head of the nations
A people whom I have not known shall serve me
As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me
The foreigners shall submit themselves to me
The foreigners shall fade away
And shall come trembling out of their strongholds
The LORD 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, LORD, amongst 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

About This Psalm

Psalm 18 is a praise psalm that speaks to the heart of worship and devotion. This ancient song continues to inspire modern believers in their faith journey.

Key Themes: praise, deliverance, trust, righteousness, creation, kingship, conflict

Reflection

This psalm invites us to:

• Meditate on God's word and character
• Apply biblical truth to our daily lives
• Express our hearts in worship and prayer

Music & Worship

Modern worship music for this psalm coming soon. Subscribe to get notified when new recordings are available.

Discussion Questions

1. What does this psalm teach us about God's character?
2. How can we apply the message of Psalm 18 to our lives today?
3. What verse or phrase stands out most to you, and why?

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