Psalm 18

O Lord my strength, I will love thee,
The Lord's my rock and fort,
And my DELIVERER is he,
My God, and my support:
My strength and station most secure,
In whom my trust shall be:
The horn of my salvation sure,
And my high tower is he.
Upon the Lords Name I will call,
Who is most worthy praise:
So shall I scape mine enemies all,
With safety all my daies.
Sorrows of death did me inclose,
Wherewith I was dismaid,
The flouds of wicked men arose,
And made me much afraid.
Sorrows of hell then did I see
Set round on every •ide:
The snares of death prevented me,
Then to my God I cri'd.
I call'd upon the Lord most high,
In my distress and fear:
He from his Temple heard my cry,
My words came to his ear.

2. Part.
THe earth did tremble then and shake,
A trembling on it seis'd:
The mightie hils did also quake,
Because thou wast displeas'd.
Out of his nostrils went a smoke,
And from his mouth there came
Devouring fire, which did provoke
Sulphurous coals to flame.
Th'almighty Lord the heavens bow'd,
And downward did descend:
Beneath his feet a sable cloud
Of darkness did extend.
A Cherub Chariot did him bear,
Whose plumes he made his sail:
The winds his winged coursers were,
And darkness was his vail.
Dark his pavilion, dark the skie,
Dark waters duskie clouds
Compose a very Canopie,
Wherein himself he shrowds
And at the brightness which did flame
Before him in his ire,
His thick clouds past, and with the same
Hail-stones and coals of fire.
The Lord in heaven thundred lowd,
His voice the Lord most high
In hail-stones gave, and in a cloud
Of fire, powr'd from the skie.
He sent out arrows from the skie,
And scattered them by those:
He shot out lightnings dreadfully,
Discomfiting his foes.
Then were the water-chanels seen,
And worlds foundations vast,
Disclos'd at thy rebuke so keen,
Even at thy nostrils blast.

3. Part.
GOd sent from heaven & took me our,
And drew me from the deep:
From hatefull foes both strong & stout
He did me safely keep.
My stronger foes prevented me,
In that so dang'rous day,
That threatned my calamitie,
But God was then my stay.
Into a place secure and free
My soul he quickly brought:
Because he took delight in me,
He my deliverance wrought.
According to mine innocence,
Was my reward made sure:
The Lord did give in recompence,
Because my hands were pure.
For in the waies of God have I
Continually trod:
And have not ever wickedly
Departed from my God.
His judgements all before me were,
His statutes unremov'd:
Before him was my heart sincere,
Wherein no guile was prov'd.
From staines of mine iniquitie
I kept my Conscience free.
Therefore the Lord abundantly
Hath recompenced me.
According to th' integritie,
And cleanness of my hands:
Which he, beholding with his eye,
Exactly understands.

4. Part.
THe mercifull thou wilt requite,
With mercy, in their kind,
And they that are themselves upright,
The like in thee shall find.
Unto the pure thy puritie,
Thou wilt O Lord declare:
And thou wilt deal as frowardly
With those that froward are.
For, Lord, thou wilt those people save,
whom sharp afflictions tri'd:
And wilt bring down all those that have
The loftie looks of pride.
My candle thou shalt surely light,
This darksome night of mine,
The Lord my God will make as bright
As lightsome day to shine.
I ran through armed troops by thee,
And safely scap'd them all:
And by my God (assisting me)
Have I leapt o'r a wall.
As for the LORD his word is tri'd,
His way is perfect pure:
To all that have on him reli'd,
He is buckler sure.
For who, except the LORD alone,
A God esteem'd may be:
And who a mighty rock but one,
And our JEHOVAH he?
It is the LORD which girds & binds
My soul with power so great:
He makes my feet like feet of Hinds,
And makes my way compleat.
He sets me on the places high,
By conquest mine they are:
He taught my hands the facultie
Of exercising warre.
So that a bow compleatly steel'd
Is broken by mine arms:
Thou gav'st me thy salvations shield,
Thy right hand holds from harms.
Thy gentleness did me advance,
My stepping-place made wide:
That by no danger of mischance
My foot should slip aside.

5. Part.
I Have pursu'd my foes that fled,
And also overta'n:
And, till they were extinguished,
I did not turn again.
They had not strength enough to rise,
I wounded them so sore;
Beneath my feet, mine enemies
Are fall'n in bloudy gore.
Thou girdedst me with fortitude
To battell with my foes:
And under me hast them subdu'd
That up against me rose.
Mine en'mies necks into my hand
Were given me by thee:
That I might root out of the land
All them that hated mee.
Lowd shrieks and cryes they multipli'd,
But there was none to save:
Yea, even to the LORD they cri'd,
But he no answer gave.
As small as dust that's blown about
When boist'rous winds do meet:
I beat my foes, and cast them out
As dirt into the street.
Thou hast me Lord delivered
From all seditious hands:
And thou hast made me to be head
Of all the heathen lands.
A people shall my servants be
Whose face I never saw:
As soon as they do hear of me
They shall obey my law.
The strangers shall be all dismaid,
The strangers shall submit,
And fade away, and be afraid
Where they in secret sit.

6. Part.
O Blessed be my rock of power,
That ever doth abide:
And let the Lord my Saviour
Be highly magnifi'd.
'Tis God that hath avenged me,
My people he subjects:
And my Deliverer is he
That me from foes protects.
Above them hast thou rais'd my head
That did my hurt conspire:
And me from him delivered
Whom fury set on fire.
Among the heathen for this thing,
Thy praises I'l proclame:
And cheerfull songs of triumph sing
To thy victorious Name.
Full great deliv'rance he doth bring,
And mercy keeps in store,
For David his anointed King,
And HIS seed evermore.