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Psalms 18-21
Psalms 18
1For the choir director. Of the servant of the LORD, David, who spoke the words of this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the power of Saul. He said: [1] I love you, LORD, my strength.
2The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.
4The ropes of death were wrapped around me; the torrents of destruction terrified me.
5The ropes of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
6I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
7Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the mountains trembled; they shook because he burned with anger.
8Smoke rose from his nostrils, and consuming fire came from his mouth; coals were set ablaze by it.
9He bent the heavens and came down, total darkness beneath his feet.
10He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his hiding place, dark storm clouds his canopy around him.
12From the radiance of his presence, his clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals.
13The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High made his voice heard.
14He shot his arrows and scattered them; he hurled lightning bolts and routed them.
15The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed, at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he pulled me out of deep water.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.
19He brought me out to a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; he repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
22Indeed, I let all his ordinances guide me and have not disregarded his statutes.
23I was blameless toward him and kept myself from my iniquity.
24So the LORD repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25With the faithful you prove yourself faithful, with the blameless you prove yourself blameless,
26with the pure you prove yourself pure; but with the crooked you prove yourself shrewd.
27For you rescue an oppressed people, but you humble those with haughty eyes.
28LORD, you light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.
29With you I can attack a barricade, and with my God I can leap over a wall.
30God — his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
31For who is God besides the LORD? And who is a rock? Only our God.
32God — he clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect.
33He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights.
34He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have given me the shield of your salvation; your right hand upholds me, and your humility exalts me.
36You make a spacious place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.
37I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I do not turn back until they are wiped out.
38I crush them, and they cannot get up; they fall beneath my feet.
39You have clothed me with strength for battle; you subdue my adversaries beneath me.
40You have made my enemies retreat before me; I annihilate those who hate me.
41They cry for help, but there is no one to save them — they cry to the LORD, but he does not answer them.
42I pulverize them like dust before the wind; I trample them like mud in the streets.
43You have freed me from the feuds among the people; you have appointed me the head of nations; a people I had not known serve me.
44Foreigners submit to me cringing; as soon as they hear they obey me.
45Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their fortifications.
46The LORD lives — blessed be my rock! The God of my salvation is exalted.
47God — he grants me vengeance and subdues peoples under me.
48He frees me from my enemies. You exalt me above my adversaries; you rescue me from violent men.
49Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, LORD; I will sing praises about your name.
50He gives great victories to his king; he shows loyalty to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.
Psalms 19
1For the choir director. A psalm of David. [1] The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
2Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.
3There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
4Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
6It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
10They are more desirable than gold — than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
11In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalms 20
1For the choir director. A psalm of David. [1] May the LORD answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.
2May he send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.
3May he remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah
4May he give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.
5Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May the LORD fulfill all your requests.
6Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories from his right hand.
7Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the LORD our God.
8They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm.
9LORD, give victory to the king! May he answer us on the day that we call.
Psalms 21
1For the choir director. A psalm of David. [1] LORD, the king finds joy in your strength. How greatly he rejoices in your victory!
2You have given him his heart’s desire and have not denied the request of his lips. Selah
3For you meet him with rich blessings; you place a crown of pure gold on his head.
4He asked you for life, and you gave it to him — length of days forever and ever.
5His glory is great through your victory; you confer majesty and splendor on him.
6You give him blessings forever; you cheer him with joy in your presence.
7For the king relies on the LORD; through the faithful love of the Most High he is not shaken.
8Your hand will capture all your enemies; your right hand will seize those who hate you.
9You will make them burn like a fiery furnace when you appear; the LORD will engulf them in his wrath, and fire will devour them.
10You will wipe their progeny from the earth and their offspring from the human race.
11Though they intend to harm you and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.
12Instead, you will put them to flight when you ready your bowstrings to shoot at them.
13Be exalted, LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.