Psalm XVIII.
1
Thee will I love, O Lord, my Strength
My Rock, and place of Power;
My God, my Refuge, and my Shield,
My Saviour, and my Tower.
2
I on the Name of God will call,
To whom all praise is due:
And so shall I preserved be
From them that me pursue.
3
The snares of death surrounded me,
And like a mighty flood,
The wicked came to swallow me,
And they that sought my Blood.
4
I call'd upon the Lord my God
In my distress and fear;
And from his holy Temple he
My voice and cry did hear.
5
Great Earthquakes then, & mountains rent,
His anger did proclaim:
A smoke was from his nostrils sent,
And from his mouth a flame.
6
In clouds the Lord from Heaven came down
Mine enemies to pursue:
Swift as an Angel, or the Wind,
His mighty vengeance flew.
7
Black clouds, with furious tempests big
He made to be his tent:
And dreadful lightnings, mixt with hail,
Before his presence went.
8
Together with his thunders loud,
He shot his arrows out:
His lightnings slew the wicked crew,
And scatter'd them about.
9
The channels of the Sea were seen
At thy rebuke and frown:
The strong foundations of the earth
Were turned upside-down.
10
He sent and drew me from the floods
Of them that were too strong:
Nor suffer'd them that hated me
To do me any wrong.
11
In my distress they laid a snare,
But God my part did take,
And in my straights enlarged me,
For his good pleasures sake.
12
The Lord hath weigh'd the innocence
And justice of my cause:
Because I did not him forsake,
But kept his holy laws.
13
His word was ever in my sight,
My life from vice was free;
And after my integrity
He hath rewarded me.
14
For, Lord thou wilt be merciful
To them that mercy shew;
The upright Man and the sincere,
Thou lov'st sincerely too.
15
The pure that true and faithful are,
Thy faithfulness shall find;
But froward Men thou wilt repay
According to their kind.
16
Thou dost delight to save the poor,
And haughty looks debase;
And in my dark and low estate
Wilt shew thy lightsome face.
17
To break through troops of enemies,
I helped was by thee:
To scale the Walls of Cities strong,
My God enabled me.
18
God's way is perfect, and his word
Is try'd and found most just:
A buckler he will be to all
That on his promise trust.
19
My God and my Almighty Rock,
O Lord thou art alone;
My strength by whom in all my ways
I have in safety gone.
20
Swift as a Hind thou mak'st my feet,
To save my self by fight;
Or if in battle I engage,
Thou teachest me to flight.
21
By thee I broke the bows of steel.
Thou art my shield alone;
'Tis thy right hand hath held me up,
And rais'd me to a throne.
22
Thou mad'st my feet both swift and sure
When I my foes pursu'd:
Nor did I cease to follow them,
Till I had them subdu'd.
23
Wounded they fell before my feet,
They fell and rose no more;
And by thy help I am become
A perfect conqueror.
24
By thee I trode upon their necks;
They cri'd, but none to save:
Yea to the Lord, but all in vain,
For he no answer gave.
25
Then did I beat them small as dust,
That by the wind is blown:
I cast them out, like mire and dirt,
That in the streets is thrown.
26
Thou hast preserv'd me in the broils,
Within my Kingdom bred:
And of the Nations round about,
I am become the head.
27
Strange Countries shall submit to me,
When of my fame they hear:
And foreigners to me shall crouch,
And hide themselves for fear.
28
Blest be the living Lord, my Rock,
My God exalted be;
Who conquers all my enemies,
And hath avenged me.
29
'Tis he that has delivered me
From all my enemies:
But chiefly from the violent Man,
That did against me rise.
30
Therefore will I in Heathen Lands,
Give thanks unto thy Name:
And in the Countries round about,
Sing praises to the same.
31
He saves his King, I then will say,
And keeps his promise fast
To David, and to Christ his Seed,
Whose Throne shall ever last.
