The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, (A)the servant of the Lord, (B)who addressed the words of this (C)song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:

18 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my (D)rock and my (E)fortress and my deliverer,
    my God, my (F)rock, in (G)whom I take refuge,
    my (H)shield, and (I)the horn of my salvation, my (J)stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is (K)worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.

(L)The cords of death encompassed me;
    (M)the torrents of destruction assailed me;[a]
(N)the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me.

(O)In my distress I called upon the Lord;
    to my God I cried for help.
From his (P)temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 18:4 Or terrified me

Psalm 18[a](A)

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

I love you, Lord, my strength.(B)

The Lord is my rock,(C) my fortress(D) and my deliverer;(E)
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(F)
    my shield[b](G) and the horn[c] of my salvation,(H) my stronghold.

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,(I)
    and I have been saved from my enemies.(J)
The cords of death(K) entangled me;
    the torrents(L) of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death(M) confronted me.

In my distress(N) I called to the Lord;(O)
    I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;(P)
    my cry came(Q) before him, into his ears.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 18:1 In Hebrew texts 18:1-50 is numbered 18:2-51.
  2. Psalm 18:2 Or sovereign
  3. Psalm 18:2 Horn here symbolizes strength.

46 The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
    and exalted be the God of my salvation—
47 the God who gave me vengeance
    and (A)subdued peoples under me,
48 who rescued me from my enemies;
    yes, you (B)exalted me above those who rose against me;
    you delivered me from (C)the man of violence.

49 (D)For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
    and (E)sing to your name.
50 Great (F)salvation he brings to his king,
    and shows steadfast love to his (G)anointed,
    to (H)David and his offspring forever.

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46 The Lord lives!(A) Praise be to my Rock!(B)
    Exalted be God(C) my Savior!(D)
47 He is the God who avenges(E) me,
    who subdues nations(F) under me,
48     who saves(G) me from my enemies.(H)
You exalted me above my foes;
    from a violent man(I) you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;(J)
    I will sing(K) the praises of your name.(L)

50 He gives his king great victories;
    he shows unfailing love to his anointed,(M)
    to David(N) and to his descendants forever.(O)

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