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The Book of Psalms, Chapter 18
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1 |
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
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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.
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3 |
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall
I be saved from mine enemies.
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4 |
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men
made me afraid.
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5 |
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death
prevented me.
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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.
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7 |
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the
hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
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8 |
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his
mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
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9 |
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under
his feet.
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10 |
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the
wings of the wind.
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11 |
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him
were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
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12 |
At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed,
hail stones and coals of fire.
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13 |
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his
voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
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14 |
Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out
lightnings, and discomfited them.
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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.
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16 |
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
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17 |
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated
me: for they were too strong for me.
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18 |
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my
stay.
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19 |
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me,
because he delighted in me.
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20 |
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to
the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
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21 |
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly
departed from my God.
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22 |
For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his
statutes from me.
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23 |
I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine
iniquity.
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24 |
Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my
righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
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25 |
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an
upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
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26 |
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward
thou wilt shew thyself froward.
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27 |
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down
high looks.
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28 |
For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my
darkness.
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29 |
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I
leaped over a wall.
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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.
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31 |
For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
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32 |
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way
perfect.
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33 |
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high
places.
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34 |
He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by
mine arms.
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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.
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36 |
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
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37 |
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I
turn again till they were consumed.
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38 |
I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are
fallen under my feet.
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39 |
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast
subdued under me those that rose up against me.
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40 |
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might
destroy them that hate me.
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41 |
They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD,
but he answered them not.
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42 |
Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did
cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
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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.
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44 |
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers
shall submit themselves unto me.
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45 |
The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close
places.
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46 |
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my
salvation be exalted.
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47 |
It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
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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.
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49 |
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the
heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
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50 |
Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to
his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
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