Chapter 18

  I love you, Yahweh, my strength.  

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  Yahweh is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.  

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  I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.  

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  The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.  

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  The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came on me.  

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  In my distress I called on Yahweh, And cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple, My cry before him came into his ears.  

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  Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, Because he was angry.  

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  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, Fire out of his mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it.  

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  He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.  

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  He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.  

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  He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion around him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.  

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  At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.  

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  Yahweh also thundered in the sky, The Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.  

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  He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, lightnings manifold, and routed them.  

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  Then the channels of waters appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, At your rebuke, Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of your nostrils.  

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  He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.  

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  He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.  

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  They came on me in the day of my calamity, But Yahweh was my support.  

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  He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.  

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  Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.  

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  For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, And have not wickedly departed from my God.  

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  For all his ordinances were before me. I didn't put away his statutes from me.  

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  I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.  

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  Therefore has Yahweh recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.  

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  With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.  

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  With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.  

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  For you will save the afflicted people, But the haughty eyes you will bring down.  

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  For you will light my lamp. Yahweh, my God, will light up my darkness.  

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  For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.  

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  As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.  

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  For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God,  

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  The God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?  

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  He makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me on my high places.  

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  He teaches my hands to war; So that my arms bend a bow of bronze.  

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  You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.  

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  You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped.  

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  I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed.  

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  I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet.  

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  For you have girded me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.  

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  You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, That I might cut off those who hate me.  

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  They cried, but there was none to save; Even to Yahweh, but he didn't answer them.  

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  Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets.  

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  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.  

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  As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me.  

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  The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places.  

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  Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,  

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  Even the God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me.  

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  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.  

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  Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, And will sing praises to your name.  

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  He gives great deliverance to his king, And shows lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, forevermore. Psalm 19 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.  

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