Psalms 18

See the Contents of this Psalm in the second Book of Samuel, before the two and twentieth chapter.

1. For the chief Song-master: (A Psalm) of David the servant of the LORD, that spoke the words of this song unto the LORD, in the day when the LORD had rescued him, out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul. [This Psalm is likewise set down, 2 Sam.22. saving some few alterations here and there, which it pleased the holy Ghost to make use of, as will appear by comparing them together. See the annotations there.]

2. He said then: I will love thee heartily [Or, from the bottom of my heart, inwardly, from the inmost parts; as a mother loveth and affecteth the fruit of her womb. For the Hebrew verb cometh from a word which signifieth the womb, or matrix, entrails, or bowels, and thence pity, compassion, tenderness; So that this verb doth withal full of fervent and most inward affection to the party beloved. Compare Psalms 103:1.] LORD my strength.

3. The LORD is my rock, and my castle, and my helper-out, my God, my rock, on whom I trust; my shield, and horn of my salvation, mine high retreat.

4. I called on the LORD, that is to be praised, and was delivered from mine enemies.

5. Bonds of death had encompassed me, and brooks of Belial did affright me.

6. Bonds of hell environed me, snares of death met me.

7. When I was anxious, then I called on the LORD and cryed to my God: he heart my voice out of his Palace, and my calling before his face, came into his ears

8. Then the earth quaked and trembled, and the foundations of the mountains shook and quaked because that he was incensed.

9. Smoke went up from his nose, and a fire out of his mouth consumed; coals were kindled thereby.

10. And he bowed the heavens, and came down, and darkness was under his feet.

11. And he rode upon a Cherub, and did fly; yea, he did fly swiftly [The Hebrew word is used of the swift flying of an Eagle, Deut.28.49. Jer.48.40. and 48.40. and 49.22.] upon the wings of the wind. [Compare Psalm 104 3.]

12. He set (or put) darkness for his hiding; round about him was his tent, darkness of waters, clouds of the heaven.

13. From the splendor that was before him, his clouds drove along; hail and fiery coals.

14. And the LORD thundered in the heaven, and the most high gave his voice; hail and fiery coals.

15. And he sent forth his darts, and destroyed them; and he multiplied the lightings, [Or, hot forth lightnings. See Job 16:13. Jerem.50.29.] and frighted them.

16. And the deep gulfs of the waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered from thy chiding, O LORD, from the blast of the wind of thy nose.

17. He sent (down) from the height; he took me: he drew me out of great waters.

18. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from my haters, because they were mightier than I.

19. They had met me in the day of my mishap, but the LORD was to me a support.

20. And he carried me forth into largeness, he plucked me out, for he delighted in me.

21. The LORD requited me according to my righteousness: he rendered me according to the cleanness of my hands.

22. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23. For all his rights were before me; and his institutions did I not (put) away from me.

24. But I was upright with him, and I kept my self from mine iniquity.

25. So the LORD rendered me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes.

26. With the kind (or, debonair) thou demeanest thy self kind; with the upright man, thou demeanest thy self upright.

27. With the pure, thou demeanest thy self pure; but with the perverse thou shewest thy self a wraster. [Or, distorted. See 2 Samuel 22.on verse 27.]

28. For thou deliverest the oppressed people; but the lofty eyes [See Psa.10.on v.4.] thou doest humble.

29. For thou lightest my Lamp, [See Job 18.on v.6.] the LORD my God doth make my darkness to clear up.

30. For with thee do I run through a band, and with my God do I leap over a wall.

31. Gods way is perfect: the speech of the LORD is refined; he is a shield to all that trust in him.

32. For who is God, beside the LORD? And who is a rock but onely our God.

33. It is God that girdeth me about with power; and he hath made my way perfect, [i.e. perfectly plain, even, clear, as it is expressed, 2 Sam.22.33.]

34. He maketh my feet like as the Hinds, and he setteth me on my heights.

35. He teacheth my hands for the fight, (or combat, battle) so that a steel how is broken with my arms.

36. Also thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation, and they right hand hath supported me, and thy meekness hath made me great.

37. Thou hast made room for my footstep under me, and my ankles have not wavered.

38. I pursued my Enemies and overtook them: and I returned not, till I had destroyed them.

39. I Thrust them through, that they were not able to rise again, they fell under my feet.

40. For thou didst gird me about with power for the battle; thou madest to how under me those that rose up against me.

41. And thou gavest me the neck of mine Enemies, and of my haters; them I destroyed.

42. They cryed, but there was no Saviour; to the LORD, but he answered them not.

43. Then I grinded them as dust before the wind: I rid them away, as mire of the streets.

44. Thou hast helped me out from the contentions of the people: thou hast set me to a head of the heathen: the people (which) I knew not hath served me.

45. As soon as (their) ear hear (of me) they obeyed me: strangers have feignedly subjected themselves to me.

46. Strangers are fallen away (or decayed) and have trembled out of their castles.

47. The LORD liveth, and praised be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation.

48. The God that giveth me perfect vengeance, and bringeth the people under me.

49. That helpeth me out from mine Enemies: yea thou exaltest me above those that rise up against me: thou rescuest me from the man of violence.

50. Therefore will I praise thee O LORD, among the heathen: and will sing Psalms unto thy name.

51. That maketh the deliverances of his King great, and sheweth kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed forever.