Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 18 » Verse 1-50

Psalms 18:1-50 King James Version (KJV)

1 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

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.

3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

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.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

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

10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

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.

16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

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

20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

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

22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

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.

31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

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.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

41 They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

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.

44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

46 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

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.

49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.


Psalms 18:1-50 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 [[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm of David, H1732 the servant H5650 of the LORD, H3068 who spake H1696 unto the LORD H3068 the words H1697 of this song H7892 in the day H3117 that the LORD H3068 delivered H5337 him from the hand H3709 of all his enemies, H341 and from the hand H3027 of Saul: H7586 And he said,]] H559 I will love H7355 thee, O LORD, H3068 my strength. H2391

2 The LORD H3068 is my rock, H5553 and my fortress, H4686 and my deliverer; H6403 my God, H410 my strength, H6697 in whom I will trust; H2620 my buckler, H4043 and the horn H7161 of my salvation, H3468 and my high tower. H4869

3 I will call H7121 upon the LORD, H3068 who is worthy to be praised: H1984 so shall I be saved H3467 from mine enemies. H341

4 The sorrows H2256 of death H4194 compassed H661 me, and the floods H5158 of ungodly men H1100 made me afraid. H1204

5 The sorrows H2256 of hell H7585 compassed me about: H5437 the snares H4170 of death H4194 prevented H6923 me.

6 In my distress H6862 I called H7121 upon the LORD, H3068 and cried H7768 unto my God: H430 he heard H8085 my voice H6963 out of his temple, H1964 and my cry H7775 came H935 before H6440 him, even into his ears. H241

7 Then the earth H776 shook H1607 and trembled; H7493 the foundations H4146 also of the hills H2022 moved H7264 and were shaken, H1607 because he was wroth. H2734

8 There went up H5927 a smoke H6227 out of his nostrils, H639 and fire H784 out of his mouth H6310 devoured: H398 coals H1513 were kindled H1197 by it.

9 He bowed H5186 the heavens H8064 also, and came down: H3381 and darkness H6205 was under his feet. H7272

10 And he rode H7392 upon a cherub, H3742 and did fly: H5774 yea, he did fly H1675 upon the wings H3671 of the wind. H7307

11 He made H7896 darkness H2822 his secret place; H5643 his pavilion H5521 round about H5439 him were dark H2824 waters H4325 and thick clouds H5645 of the skies. H7834

12 At the brightness H5051 that was before him his thick clouds H5645 passed, H5674 hail H1259 stones and coals H1513 of fire. H784

13 The LORD H3068 also thundered H7481 in the heavens, H8064 and the Highest H5945 gave H5414 his voice; H6963 hail H1259 stones and coals H1513 of fire. H784

14 Yea, he sent out H7971 his arrows, H2671 and scattered H6327 them; and he shot out H7232 lightnings, H1300 and discomfited H2000 them.

15 Then the channels H650 of waters H4325 were seen, H7200 and the foundations H4146 of the world H8398 were discovered H1540 at thy rebuke, H1606 O LORD, H3068 at the blast H5397 of the breath H7307 of thy nostrils. H639

16 He sent H7971 from above, H4791 he took H3947 me, he drew H4871 me out of many H7227 waters. H4325

17 He delivered H5337 me from my strong H5794 enemy, H341 and from them which hated H8130 me: for they were too strong H553 for me.

18 They prevented H6923 me in the day H3117 of my calamity: H343 but the LORD H3068 was my stay. H4937

19 He brought me forth H3318 also into a large place; H4800 he delivered H2502 me, because he delighted H2654 in me.

20 The LORD H3068 rewarded H1580 me according to my righteousness; H6664 according to the cleanness H1252 of my hands H3027 hath he recompensed H7725 me.

21 For I have kept H8104 the ways H1870 of the LORD, H3068 and have not wickedly departed H7561 from my God. H430

22 For all his judgments H4941 were before me, and I did not put away H5493 his statutes H2708 from me.

23 I was also upright H8549 before him, and I kept H8104 myself from mine iniquity. H5771

24 Therefore hath the LORD H3068 recompensed H7725 me according to my righteousness, H6664 according to the cleanness H1252 of my hands H3027 in his eyesight. H5869

25 With the merciful H2623 thou wilt shew thyself merciful; H2616 with an upright H8549 man H1399 thou wilt shew thyself upright; H8552

26 With the pure H1305 thou wilt shew thyself pure; H1305 and with the froward H6141 thou wilt shew thyself froward. H6617

27 For thou wilt save H3467 the afflicted H6041 people; H5971 but wilt bring down H8213 high H7311 looks. H5869

28 For thou wilt light H215 my candle: H5216 the LORD H3068 my God H430 will enlighten H5050 my darkness. H2822

29 For by thee I have run through H7323 a troop; H1416 and by my God H430 have I leaped over H1801 a wall. H7791

30 As for God, H410 his way H1870 is perfect: H8549 the word H565 of the LORD H3068 is tried: H6884 he is a buckler H4043 to all those that trust H2620 in him.

31 For who is God H433 save H1107 the LORD? H3068 or who is a rock H6697 save H2108 our God? H430

32 It is God H410 that girdeth H247 me with strength, H2428 and maketh H5414 my way H1870 perfect. H8549

33 He maketh H7737 my feet H7272 like hinds' H355 feet, and setteth H5975 me upon my high places. H1116

34 He teacheth H3925 my hands H3027 to war, H4421 so that a bow H7198 of steel H5154 is broken H5181 by mine arms. H2220

35 Thou hast also given H5414 me the shield H4043 of thy salvation: H3468 and thy right hand H3225 hath holden me up, H5582 and thy gentleness H6037 hath made me great. H7235

36 Thou hast enlarged H7337 my steps H6806 under me, that my feet H7166 did not slip. H4571

37 I have pursued H7291 mine enemies, H341 and overtaken H5381 them: neither did I turn again H7725 till they were consumed. H3615

38 I have wounded H4272 them that they were not able H3201 to rise: H6965 they are fallen H5307 under my feet. H7272

39 For thou hast girded H247 me with strength H2428 unto the battle: H4421 thou hast subdued H3766 under me those that rose up H6965 against me.

40 Thou hast also given H5414 me the necks H6203 of mine enemies; H341 that I might destroy H6789 them that hate H8130 me.

41 They cried, H7768 but there was none to save H3467 them: even unto the LORD, H3068 but he answered H6030 them not.

42 Then did I beat H7833 them small as the dust H6083 before H6440 the wind: H7307 I did cast them out H7324 as the dirt H2916 in the streets. H2351

43 Thou hast delivered H6403 me from the strivings H7379 of the people; H5971 and thou hast made H7760 me the head H7218 of the heathen: H1471 a people H5971 whom I have not known H3045 shall serve H5647 me.

44 As soon as they hear H8088 H241 of me, they shall obey H8085 me: the strangers H1121 H5236 shall submit H3584 themselves unto me.

45 The strangers H1121 H5236 shall fade away, H5034 and be afraid H2727 out of their close places. H4526

46 The LORD H3068 liveth; H2416 and blessed H1288 be my rock; H6697 and let the God H430 of my salvation H3468 be exalted. H7311

47 It is God H410 that avengeth H5414 H5360 me, and subdueth H1696 the people H5971 under me.

48 He delivereth H6403 me from mine enemies: H341 yea, thou liftest me up H7311 above those that rise up H6965 against me: thou hast delivered H5337 me from the violent H2555 man. H376

49 Therefore will I give thanks H3034 unto thee, O LORD, H3068 among the heathen, H1471 and sing praises H2167 unto thy name. H8034

50 Great H1431 deliverance H3444 giveth he to his king; H4428 and sheweth H6213 mercy H2617 to his anointed, H4899 to David, H1732 and to his seed H2233 for H5704 evermore. H5769


Psalms 18:1-50 American Standard (ASV)

1 I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.

2 Jehovah 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.

3 I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The cords of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

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

6 In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry before him came into his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the mountains quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.

8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.

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

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

13 Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.

14 And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.

15 Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.

18 They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.

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

20 Jehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

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

22 For all his ordinances were before me, And I put not away his statutes from me.

23 I was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect;

26 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; But the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down.

28 For thou wilt light my lamp: Jehovah my God will lighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I run upon a troop; And by my God do I leap over a wall.

30 As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him.

31 For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, besides our God,

32 The God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect?

33 He maketh my feet like hinds' `feet': And setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

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.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.

37 I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them; Neither will I turn again till they are consumed.

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

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

40 Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.

41 They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.

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

43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; Thou hast made me the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me; The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me.

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

46 Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation,

47 Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And subdueth peoples under me.

48 He rescueth me from mine enemies; Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.

49 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name.

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore. Psalm 19 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.


Psalms 18:1-50 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 To the Overseer. -- By a servant of Jehovah, by David, who hath spoken to Jehovah the words of this song in the day Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, and he saith: -- I love Thee, O Jehovah, my strength.

2 Jehovah `is' my rock, and my bulwark, And my deliverer, My God `is' my rock, I trust in Him: My shield, and a horn of my salvation, My high tower.

3 The `Praised One' I call Jehovah, And from my enemies I am saved.

4 Compassed me have cords of death, And streams of the worthless make me afraid.

5 Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been snares of death.

6 In mine adversity I call Jehovah, And unto my God I cry. He heareth from His temple my voice, And My cry before Him cometh into His ears.

7 And shake and tremble doth the earth, And foundations of hills are troubled, And they shake -- because He hath wrath.

8 Gone up hath smoke by His nostrils, And fire from His mouth consumeth, Coals have been kindled by it.

9 And He inclineth the heavens, and cometh down, And thick darkness `is' under His feet.

10 And He rideth on a cherub, and doth fly, And He flieth on wings of wind.

11 He maketh darkness His secret place, Round about Him His tabernacle, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

12 From the brightness over-against Him His thick clouds have passed on, Hail and coals of fire.

13 And thunder in the heavens doth Jehovah, And the Most High giveth forth His voice, Hail and coals of fire.

14 And He sendeth His arrows and scattereth them, And much lightning, and crusheth them.

15 And seen are the streams of waters, And revealed are foundations of the earth. From Thy rebuke, O Jehovah, From the breath of the spirit of Thine anger.

16 He sendeth from above -- He taketh me, He draweth me out of many waters.

17 He delivereth me from my strong enemy, And from those hating me, For they have been stronger than I.

18 They go before me in a day of my calamity And Jehovah is for a support to me.

19 And He bringeth me forth to a large place, He draweth me out, because He delighted in me.

20 Jehovah doth recompense me According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, He doth return to me.

21 For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not done wickedly against my God.

22 For all His judgments `are' before me, And His statutes I turn not from me.

23 And I am perfect with him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity.

24 And Jehovah doth return to me, According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, Over-against his eyes.

25 With the kind Thou showest Thyself kind, With a perfect man showest Thyself perfect.

26 With the pure Thou showest Thyself pure, And with the perverse showest Thyself a wrestler,

27 For Thou a poor people savest, And the eyes of the high causest to fall.

28 For Thou -- Thou lightest my lamp, Jehovah my God enlighteneth my darkness.

29 For by Thee I run -- a troop! And by my God I leap a wall.

30 God! perfect `is' His way, The saying of Jehovah is tried, A shield `is' He to all those trusting in Him.

31 For who `is' God besides Jehovah? And who `is' a rock save our God?

32 God! who is girding me `with' strength, And He maketh perfect my way.

33 Making my feet like hinds, And on my high places causeth me to stand.

34 Teaching my hands for battle, And a bow of brass was brought down by my arms.

35 And Thou givest to me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy right hand doth support me, And Thy lowliness maketh me great.

36 Thou enlargest my step under me, And mine ankles have not slidden.

37 I pursue mine enemies, and overtake them, And turn back not till they are consumed.

38 I smite them, and they are not able to rise, They fall under my feet,

39 And Thou girdest me `with' strength for battle, Causest my withstanders to bow under me.

40 As to mine enemies -- Thou hast given to me the neck, As to those hating me -- I cut them off.

41 They cry, and there is no saviour, On Jehovah, and He doth not answer them.

42 And I beat them as dust before wind, As mire of the streets I empty them out.

43 Thou dost deliver me From the strivings of the people, Thou placest me for a head of nations, A people I have not known do serve me.

44 At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me, Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me,

45 Sons of a stranger fade away, And are slain out of their close places.

46 Jehovah liveth -- and blessed `is' my rock, And exalted is the God of my salvation.

47 God -- who is giving vengeance to me, And He subdueth peoples under me,

48 My deliverer from mine enemies, Above my withstanders Thou raisest me, From a man of violence dost deliver me.

49 Therefore I confess Thee among nations, O Jehovah, And to Thy name I sing praise,

50 Magnifying the salvation of His king, And doing kindness to His anointed, To David, and to his seed -- unto the age!


Psalms 18:1-50 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 {To the chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David, the servant of Jehovah, who spoke to Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies and out of the hand of Saul. And he said,} I will love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.

2 Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my ùGod, my rock, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.

3 I will call upon Jehovah, who is to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The bands of death encompassed me, and torrents of Belial made me afraid.

5 The bands of Sheol surrounded me, the cords of death encountered me.

6 In my distress I called upon Jehovah, and I cried out to my God; he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, into his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled and shook, because he was wroth.

8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals burned forth from it.

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

10 And he rode upon a cherub and did fly; yea, he flew fast upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place, his tent round about him: darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

12 From the brightness before him his thick clouds passed forth: hail and coals of fire.

13 And Jehovah thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice: hail and coals of fire.

14 And he sent his arrows, and scattered [mine enemies]; and he shot forth lightnings, and discomfited them.

15 And the beds of the waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered at thy rebuke, Jehovah, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He reached forth from above, he took me, he drew me out of great waters:

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me; for they were mightier than I.

18 They encountered me in the day of my calamity, but Jehovah was my stay.

19 And he brought me forth into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20 Jehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

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

22 For all his ordinances were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me;

23 And I was upright with him, and kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 And Jehovah hath recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

25 With the gracious thou dost shew thyself gracious; with the upright man thou dost shew thyself upright;

26 With the pure thou dost shew thyself pure; and with the perverse thou dost shew thyself contrary.

27 For it is thou that savest the afflicted people; but the haughty eyes wilt thou bring down.

28 For it is thou that makest my lamp to shine: Jehovah my God enlighteneth my darkness.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30 As for ùGod, his way is perfect; the word of Jehovah is tried: he is a shield to all that trust in him.

31 For who is +God save Jehovah? and who is a rock if not our God?

32 The ùGod who girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect,

33 Who maketh my feet like hinds' [feet], and setteth me upon my high places;

34 Who teacheth my hands to war, and mine arms bend a bow of brass;

35 And thou didst give me the shield of thy salvation, and thy right hand held me up; and thy condescending gentleness hath made me great.

36 Thou didst enlarge my steps under me, and mine ankles have not wavered.

37 I pursued mine enemies, and overtook them; and I turned not again till they were consumed.

38 I crushed them, and they were not able to rise: they fell under my feet.

39 And thou girdedst me with strength to battle; thou didst subdue under me those that rose up against me.

40 And mine enemies didst thou make to turn their backs unto me, and those that hated me I destroyed.

41 They cried, and there was none to save; -- unto Jehovah, and he answered them not.

42 And I did beat them small as dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.

43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; thou hast made me the head of the nations: a people I knew not doth serve me.

44 At the hearing of the ear, they obey me: strangers come cringing unto me.

45 Strangers have faded away, and they come trembling forth from their close places.

46 Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation,

47 The ùGod who hath avenged me, and hath subjected the peoples to me;

48 Who hath delivered me from mine enemies: yea, thou hast lifted me up above them that rose up against me; from the man of violence hast thou delivered me.

49 Therefore will I give thanks to thee, Jehovah, among the nations, and will sing psalms to thy name.

50 [It is he] who giveth great deliverances to his king, and sheweth loving-kindness to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.


Psalms 18:1-50 World English Bible (WEB)

1 > I love you, Yahweh, my strength.

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

3 I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies.

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

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

6 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.

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

8 Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.

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

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

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

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

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

14 He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.

15 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

30 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.

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

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

33 He makes my feet like deer's feet, And sets me on my high places.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

43 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.

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

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

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

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

48 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.

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

50 He gives great deliverance to his king, And shows loving kindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, forevermore.


Psalms 18:1-50 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 <To the chief music-maker. Of the servant of the Lord, of David, who said the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord made him free from the hand of all his haters, and from the hand of Saul; and he said,> I will give you my love, O Lord, my strength.

2 The Lord is my Rock, my walled town, and my saviour; my God, my Rock, in him will I put my faith; my breastplate, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

3 I will send up my cry to the Lord, who is to be praised; so will I be made safe from those who are against me.

4 The cords of death were round me, and the seas of evil put me in fear.

5 The cords of hell were round me: the nets of death came on me.

6 In my trouble my voice went up to the Lord, and my cry to my God: my voice came to his hearing in his holy Temple, and my prayer came before him, even into his ears.

7 Then trouble and shock came on the earth; and the bases of the mountains were moved and shaking, because he was angry.

8 There went up a smoke from his nose, and a fire of destruction from his mouth: flames were lighted by it.

9 The heavens were bent, so that he might come down; and it was dark under his feet.

10 And he went in flight through the air, seated on a storm-cloud: going quickly on the wings of the wind.

11 He made the dark his secret place; his tent round him was the dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 Before his shining light his dark clouds went past, raining ice and fire.

13 The Lord made thunder in the heavens, and the voice of the Highest was sounding out: a rain of ice and fire.

14 He sent out his arrows, driving them in all directions; by his flames of fire they were troubled.

15 Then the deep beds of the waters were seen, and the bases of the world were uncovered, because of your words of wrath, O Lord, because of the breath from your mouth.

16 He sent from on high, he took me, pulling me out of great waters.

17 He made me free from my strong hater, and from those who were against me, because they were stronger than I.

18 They came on me in the day of my trouble; but the Lord was my support.

19 He took me out into a wide place; he was my saviour because he had delight in me.

20 The Lord gives me the reward of my righteousness, because my hands are clean before him.

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not been turned away in sin from my God.

22 For all his decisions were before me, and I did not put away his laws from me.

23 And I was upright before him, and I kept myself from sin.

24 Because of this the Lord has given me the reward of my righteousness, because my hands are clean in his eyes.

25 On him who has mercy you will have mercy; to the upright you will be upright;

26 He who is holy will see that you are holy; but to the man whose way is not straight you will be a hard judge.

27 For you are the saviour of those who are in trouble; but eyes full of pride will be made low.

28 You, O Lord, will be my light; by you, my God, the dark will be made bright for me.

29 By your help I have made a way through the wall which was shutting me in; by the help of my God I have gone over a wall.

30 As for God, his way is completely good; the word of the Lord is tested; he is a breastplate for all those who put their faith in him.

31 For who is God but the Lord? or who is a Rock but our God?

32 God puts a strong band about me, guiding me in a straight way.

33 He makes my feet like roes' feet, and puts me on high places.

34 He makes my hands expert in war, so that a bow of brass is bent by my arms.

35 You have given me the breastplate of your salvation: your right hand has been my support, and your mercy has made me great.

36 You have made my steps wide under me, so that my feet are kept from slipping.

37 I go after my haters and overtake them; not turning back till they are all overcome.

38 I will give them wounds, so that they are not able to get up: they are stretched under my feet.

39 For I have been armed by you with strength for the fight: you have made low under me those who come out against me.

40 By you their backs are turned in flight, so that my haters are cut off.

41 They were crying out, but there was no one to come to their help: even to the Lord, but he gave them no answer.

42 Then they were crushed as small as dust before the wind; they were drained out like the waste of the streets.

43 You have made me free from the fightings of the people; you have made me the head of the nations: a people of whom I had no knowledge will be my servants.

44 From the time when my name comes to their ears they will be ruled by me: men of other countries will, with false hearts, put themselves under my authority.

45 They will be wasting away, they will come out of their secret places shaking with fear.

46 The Lord is living; praise be to my Rock, and let the God of my salvation be honoured.

47 It is God who sends punishment on my haters, and puts peoples under my rule.

48 He makes me free from my haters; I am lifted up over those who come up against me: you have made me free from the violent man.

49 Because of this I will give you praise, O Lord, among the nations, and will make a song of praise to your name.

50 Great salvation does he give to his king; he has mercy on the king of his selection, David, and on his seed for ever.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 18

Commentary on Psalms 18 Matthew Henry Commentary


Psalm 18

This psalm we met with before, in the history of David's life, 2 Sa. 22. That was the first edition of it; here we have it revived, altered a little, and fitted for the service of the church. It is David's thanksgiving for the many deliverances God had wrought for him; these he desired always to preserve fresh in his own memory and to diffuse and entail the knowledge of them. It is an admirable composition. The poetry is very fine, the images are bold, the expressions lofty, and every word is proper and significant; but the piety far exceeds the poetry. Holy faith, and love, and joy, and praise, and hope, are here lively, active, and upon the wing.

  • I. He triumphs in God (v. 1-3).
  • II. He magnifies the deliverances God had wrought for him (v. 4-19).
  • III. He takes the comfort of his integrity, which God had thereby cleared up (v. 20-28).
  • IV. He gives to God the glory of all his achievements (v. 29-42).
  • V. He encourages himself with the expectation of what God would further do for him and his (v. 43-50).

To the chief musician, A psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies.

Psa 18:1-19

The title gives us the occasion of penning this psalm; we had it before (2 Sa. 22:1), only here we are told that the psalm was delivered to the chief musician, or precentor, in the temple-songs. Note, The private compositions of good men, designed by them for their own use, may be serviceable to the public, that others may not only borrow light from their candle, but heat from their fire. Examples sometimes teach better than rules. And David is here called the servant of the Lord, as Moses was, not only as every good man is God's servant, but because, with his sceptre, with his sword, and with his pen, he greatly promoted the interests of God's kingdom in Israel. It was more his honour that he was a servant of the Lord than that he was king of a great kingdom; and so he himself accounted it (Ps. 116:16): O Lord! truly I am thy servant. In these verses,

  • I. He triumphs in God and his relation to him. The first words of the psalm, I will love thee, O Lord! my strength, are here prefixed as the scope and contents of the whole. Love to God is the first and great commandment of the law, because it is the principle of all our acceptable praise and obedience; and this use we should make of all the mercies God bestows upon us, our hearts should thereby be enlarged in love to him. This he requires and will accept; and we are very ungrateful if we grudge him so poor a return. An interest in the person loved is the lover's delight; this string therefore he touches, and on this he harps with much pleasure (v. 2): "The Lord Jehovah is my God; and then he is my rock, my fortress, all that I need and can desire in my present distress.' For there is that in God which is suited to all the exigencies and occasions of his people that trust in him. "He is my rock, and strength, and fortress;' that is,
    • 1. "I have found him so in the greatest dangers and difficulties.'
    • 2. "I have chosen him to be so, disclaiming all others, and depending upon him alone to protect me.' Those that truly love God may thus triumph in him as theirs, and may with confidence call upon him, v. 3. This further use we should make of our deliverances, we must not only love God the better, but love prayer the better-call upon him as long as we live, especially in time of trouble, with an assurance that so we shall be saved; for thus it is written, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, Acts 2:21.
  • II. He sets himself to magnify the deliverances God had wrought for him, that he might be the more affected in his returns of praise. It is good for us to observe all the circumstances of a mercy, which magnify the power of God and his goodness to us in it.
    • 1. The more imminent and threatening the danger was out of which we were delivered the greater is the mercy of the deliverance. David now remembered how the forces of his enemies poured in upon him, which he calls the floods of Belial, shoals of the children of Belial, likely to overpower him with numbers. They surrounded him, compassed him about; they surprised him, and by that means were very near seizing him; their snares prevented him, and, when without were fightings, within were fears and sorrows, v. 4, 5. His spirit was overwhelmed, and he looked upon himself as a lost man; see Ps. 116:3.
    • 2. The more earnest we have been with God for deliverance, and the more direct answer it is to our prayers, the more we are obliged to be thankful. David's deliverances were so, v. 6. David was found a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did, we shall speed as he did. Though distress drive us to prayer, God will not therefore be deaf to us; nay, being a God of pity, he will be the more ready to succour us.
    • 3. The more wonderful God's appearances are in any deliverance the greater it is: such were the deliverances wrought for David, in which God's manifestation of his presence and glorious attributes is most magnificently described, v. 7, etc. Little appeared of man, but much of God, in these deliverances.
      • (1.) He appeared a God of almighty power; for he made the earth shake and tremble, and moved even the foundations of the hills (v. 7), as of old at Mount Sinai. When the men of the earth were struck with fear, then the earth might be said to tremble; when the great men of the earth were put into confusion, then the hills moved.
      • (2.) He showed his anger and displeasure against the enemies and persecutors of his people: He was wroth, v. 7. His wrath smoked, it burned, it was fire, it was devouring fire (v. 8), and coals were kindled by it. Those that by their own sins make themselves as coals (that is, fuel) to this fire will be consumed by it. He that ordains his arrows against the persecutors sends them forth when he pleases, and they are sure to hit the mark and do execution; for those arrows are lightnings, v. 14.
      • (3.) He showed his readiness to plead his people's cause and work deliverance for them; for he rode upon a cherub and did fly, for the maintaining of right and the relieving of his distressed servants, v. 10. No opposition, no obstruction, can be given to him who rides upon the wings of the wind, who rides on the heavens, for the help of his people, and, in his excellency, on the skies.
      • (4.) He showed his condescension, in taking cognizance of David's case: He bowed the heavens and came down (v. 9), did not send an angel, but came himself, as one afflicted in the afflictions of his people.
      • (5.) He wrapped himself in darkness, and yet commanded light to shine out of darkness for his people, Isa. 45:15. He is a God that hideth himself; for he made darkness his pavilion, v. 11. his glory is invisible, his counsels are unsearchable, and his proceedings unaccountable, and so, as to us, clouds and darkness are round about him; we know not the way that he takes, even when he is coming towards us in ways of mercy; but, when his designs are secret, they are kind; for, though he hide himself, he is the God of Israel, the Saviour. And, at his brightness, the thick clouds pass (v. 12), comfort returns, the face of affairs is changed, and that which was gloomy and threatening becomes serene and pleasant.
    • 4. The greater the difficulties are that lie in the way of deliverance the more glorious the deliverance is. For the rescuing of David, the waters were to be divided till the very channels were seen; the earth was to be cloven till the very foundations of it were discovered, v. 15. There were waters deep and many, waters out of which he was to be drawn (v. 16), as Moses, who had his name from being drawn out of the water literally, as David was figuratively. His enemies were strong, and they hated him; had he been left to himself, they would have been too strong for him, v. 17. And they were too quick for him; for they prevented him in the day of his calamity, v. 18. But, in the midst of his troubles, the Lord was his stay, so that he did not sink. Note, God will not only deliver his people out of their troubles in due time, but he will sustain them and bear them up under their troubles in the mean time.
    • 5. That which especially magnified the deliverance was that his comfort was the fruit of it and God's favour was the root and fountain of it.
      • (1.) It was an introduction to his preferment, v. 19. "He brought me forth also out of my straits into a large place, where I had room, not only to turn, but to thrive in.'
      • (2.) It was a token of God's favour to him, and that made it doubly sweet: "He delivered me because he delighted in me, not for my merit, but for his own grace and good-will.' Compare this with 2 Sa. 15:26, If he thus say, I have no delight in thee, here I am. We owe our salvation, that great deliverance, to the delight God had in the Son of David, in whom he has declared himself to be well pleased.

In singing this we must triumph in God, and trust in him: and we may apply it to Christ the Son of David. The sorrows of death surrounded him; in his distress he prayed (Heb. 5:7); God made the earth to shake and tremble, and the rocks to cleave, and brought him out, in his resurrection, into a large place, because he delighted in him and in his undertaking.

Psa 18:20-28

Here,

  • I. David reflects with comfort upon his own integrity, and rejoices in the testimony of his conscience that he had had his conversation in godly sincerity and not with fleshly wisdom, 2 Co. 1:12. His deliverances were an evidence of this, and this was the great comfort of his deliverances. His enemies had misrepresented him, and perhaps, when his troubles continued long, he began to suspect himself; but, when God visibly took his part, he had both the credit and the comfort of his righteousness.
    • 1. His deliverances cleared his innocency before men, and acquitted him from those crimes which he was falsely accused of. This he calls rewarding him according to his righteousness (v. 20, 24), that is, determining the controversy between him and his enemies, according to the justice of his cause and the cleanness of his hands, from that sedition, treason, and rebellion, with which he was charged. He had often appealed to God concerning his innocency; and now God had given judgment upon the appeal (as he always will) according to equity.
    • 2. They confirmed the testimony of his own conscience for him, which he here reviews with a great deal of pleasure, v. 21-23. His own heart knows, and is ready to attest it,
      • (1.) That he had kept firmly to his duty, and had not departed, not wickedly, not wilfully departed, from his God. Those that forsake the ways of the Lord do, in effect, depart from their God, and it is a wicked thing to do so. But though we are conscious to ourselves of many a stumble, and many a false step taken, yet if we recover ourselves by repentance, and go on in the way of our duty, it shall not be construed into a departure, for it is not a wicked departure, from our God.
      • (2.) That he had kept his eye upon the rule of God's commands (v. 22): "All his judgments were before me; and I had a respect to them all, despised none as little, disliked none as hard, but made it my care and business to conform to them all. His statutes I did not put away from me, out of my sight, out of my mind, but kept my eye always upon them, and did not as those who, because they would quit the ways of the Lord, desire not the knowledge of those ways.'
      • (3.) That he had kept himself from his iniquity, and thereby had approved himself upright before God. Constant care to abstain from that sin, whatever it be, which most easily besets us, and to mortify the habit of it, will be a good evidence for us that we are upright before God. As David's deliverances cleared his integrity, so did the exaltation of Christ clear his, and for ever roll away the reproach that was cast upon him; and therefore he is said to be justified in the Spirit, 1 Tim. 3:16.
  • II. He takes occasion thence to lay down the rules of God's government and judgment, that we may know not only what God expects from us, but what we may expect from him, v. 25, 26.
    • 1. Those that show mercy to others (even they need mercy, and cannot depend upon the merit, no, not of their works of mercy) shall find mercy with God, Mt. 5:7.
    • 2. Those that are faithful to their covenants with God, and the relations wherein they stand to him, shall find him all that to them which he has promised to be. Wherever God finds an upright man, he will be found an upright God.
    • 3. Those that serve God with a pure conscience shall find that the words of the Lord are pure words, very sure to be depended on and very sweet to be delight in.
    • 4. Those that resist God, and walk contrary to him, shall find that he will resist them, and walk contrary to them, Lev. 26:21, 24.
  • III. Hence he speaks comfort to the humble ("Thou wilt save the afflicted people, that are wronged and bear it patiently'), terror to the proud ("Thou wilt bring down high looks, that aim high, and look with scorn and disdain upon the poor and pious'), and encouragement to himself-"Thou wilt light my candle, that is, thou wilt revive and comfort my sorrowful spirit, and not leave me melancholy; thou wilt recover me out of my troubles and restore me to peace and prosperity; thou wilt make my honour bright, which is now eclipsed; thou wilt guide my way, and make it plain before me, that I may avoid the snares laid for me; thou wilt light my candle to work by, and give me an opportunity of serving thee and the interests of thy kingdom among men.'

Let those that walk in darkness, and labour under many discouragements in singing these verses, encourage themselves that God himself will be a light to them.

Psa 18:29-50

In these verses,

  • I. David looks back, with thankfulness, upon the great things which God had done for him. He had not only wrought deliverance for him, but had given him victory and success, and made him triumph over those who thought to triumph over him. When we set ourselves to praise God for one mercy we must be led by that to observe the many more with which we have been compassed about, and followed, all our days. Many things had contributed to David's advancement, and he owns the hand of God in them all, to teach us to do likewise, in reviewing the several steps by which we have risen to our prosperity.
    • 1. God had given him all his skill and understanding in military affairs, which he was not bred up to nor designed for, his genius leading him more to music, and poetry, and a contemplative life: He teaches my hands to war, v. 34.
    • 2. God had given him bodily strength to go through the business and fatigue of war: God girded him with strength (v. 32, 39), to such a degree that he could break even a bow of steel, v. 34. What service God designs men for he will be sure to fit them for.
    • 3. God had likewise given him great swiftness, not to flee from the enemies but to fly upon them (v. 33): He makes my feet like hinds' feet, v. 36. "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; but' (whereas those that take large steps are apt to tread awry) "my feet did not slip.' He was so swift that he pursued his enemies and overtook them, v. 37.
    • 4. God had made him very bold and daring in his enterprises, and given him spirit proportionable to his strength. If a troop stood in his way, he made nothing of running through them; if a wall, he made nothing of leaping over it (v. 29); if ramparts and bulwarks, he soon mounted them, and by divine assistance set his feet upon the high places of the enemy, v. 33.
    • 5. God had protected him, and kept him safe, in the midst of the greatest perils. Many a time he put his life in his hand, and yet it was wonderfully preserved: "Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation (v. 35), and that has compassed me on every side. By that I have been delivered from the strivings of the people who aimed at my destruction (v. 43), particularly from the violent man' (v. 48), that is, Saul, who more than once threw a javelin at him.
    • 6. God had prospered him in his designs; he it was that made his way perfect (v. 32) and it was his right hand that held him up, v. 35.
    • 7. God had given him victory over his enemies, the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, and all that fought against Israel: those especially he means, yet not excluding the house of Saul, which opposed his coming to the crown, and the partisans of Absalom and Sheba, who would have deposed him. He enlarges much upon the goodness of God to him in defeating his enemies, attributing his victories, not to his own sword or bow, nor to the valour of his mighty men, but to the favour of God: I pursued them (v. 37), I wounded them (v. 38); for thou hast girded me with strength (v. 39), else I could not have done it. All the praise is ascribed to God: Thou hast subdued them under me, v. 39. Thou hast given me their necks (v. 40), not only to trample upon them (as Jos. 10:24), but to cut them off. Even those who hated David whom God loved, and were enemies to the Israel of God, in their distress cried unto the Lord: but in vain; he answered them not. How could they expect he should when it was he whom they fought against? And, when he disowned them (as he will all those that act against his people), no other succours could stand them in stead: There was none to save them, v. 41. Those whom God has abandoned are easily vanquished: Then did I beat them small as the dust, v. 42. But those whose cause is just he avenges (v. 47), and those whom he favours will certainly be lifted up above those that rise up against them, v. 48.
    • 8. God had raised him to the throne, and not only delivered him and kept him alive, but dignified him and made him great (v. 35): Thy gentleness has increased me-thy discipline and instruction; so some. The good lessons David learned in his affliction prepared him for the dignity and power that were intended him; and the lessening of him helped very much to increase his greatness. God made him not only a great conqueror, but a great ruler: Thou hast made me the head of the heathen (v. 43); all the neighbouring nations were tributaries to him. See 2 Sa. 8:6, 11. In all this David was a type of Christ, whom the Father brought safely through his conflicts with the powers of darkness, and made victorious over them, and gave to be head over all things to his church, which is his body.
  • II. David looks up with humble and reverent adorations of the divine glory and perfection. When God had, by his providence, magnified him, he endeavours, with his praises, to magnify God, to bless him and exalt him, v. 46. He gives honour to him,
    • 1. As a living God: The Lord liveth, v. 46. We had our lives at first from, and we owe the continuance of them to, that God who has life in himself and is therefore fitly called the living God. The gods of the heathen were dead gods. The best friends we have among men are dying friends. But God lives, lives for ever, and will not fail those that trust in him, but, because he lives, they shall live also; for he is their life.
    • 2. As a finishing God: As for God, he is not only perfect himself, but his way is perfect, v. 30. He is known by his name Jehovah (Ex. 6:3), a God performing and perfecting what he begins in providence as well as creation, Gen. 2:1. If it was God that made David's way perfect (v. 32), much more is his own way so. There is no flaw in God's works, nor any fault to be found with what he does, Eccl. 3:14. And what he undertakes he will go through with, whatever difficulties lie in the way; what God begins to build he is able to finish.
    • 3. As a faithful God: The word of the Lord is tried. "I have tried it' (says David), "and it has not failed me.' All the saints, in all ages, have tried it, and it never failed any that trusted in it. It is tried as silver is tried, refined from all such mixture and alloy as lessen the value of men's words. David, in God's providences concerning him, takes notice of the performance of his promises to him, which, as it puts sweetness into the providence, so it puts honour upon the promise.
    • 4. As the protector and defender of his people. David had found him so to him: "He is the God of my salvation (v. 46), by whose power and grace I am and hope to be saved; but not of mine only: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him (v. 30); he shelters and protects them all, is both able and ready to do so.'
    • 5. As a non-such in all this, v. 31. There is a God, and who is God save Jehovah? That God is a rock, for the support and shelter of his faithful worshippers; and who is a rock save our God? Thus he not only gives glory to God, but encourages his own faith in him. Note,
      • (1.) Whoever pretends to be deities, it is certain that there is no God, save the Lord; all others are counterfeits, Isa. 44:8; Jer. 10:10.
      • (2.) Whoever pretends to be our felicities, there is no rock, save our God; none that we can depend upon to make us happy.
  • III. David looks forward, with a believing hope that God would still do him good. He promises himself,
    • 1. That his enemies should be completely subdued, and that those of them that yet remained should be made his footstool,-that his government should be extensive, so that even a people whom he had not known should serve him (v. 43),-that his conquests, and, consequently, his acquests, should be easy (As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me, v. 44),-and that his enemies should be convinced that it was to no purpose to oppose him; even those that had retired to their fastnesses should not trust to them, but be afraid out of their close places, having seen so much of David's wisdom, courage, and success. Thus the Son of David, though he sees not yet all things put under him, yet knows he shall reign till all opposing rule, principality, and power shall be quite put down.
    • 2. That his seed should be forever continued in the Messiah, who, he foresaw, should come from his loins, v. 50. He shows mercy to his anointed, his Messiah, to David himself, the anointed of the God of Jacob in the type, and to his seed for evermore. He saith not unto seeds, as of many, but to his seed, as of one, that is Christ, Gal. 3:16. It is he only that shall reign for ever, and of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no end. Christ is called David, Hos. 3:5. God has called him his king, Ps. 2:6. Great deliverance God does give, and will give to him, and to his church and people, here called his seed, for evermore.

In singing these verses we must give God the glory of the victories of Christ and his church hitherto and of all the deliverances and advancements of the gospel kingdom, and encourage ourselves and one another with an assurance that the church militant will be shortly triumphant, will be eternally so.