Psalm 18

JEhovah, thou that art my strength,
Ile love thee tenderly;
God is my rock and tow'r, to which
in my distresse I fly,
My strength, God's my deliverer,
my rock on whom I stay,
The horn of my salvation,
and my high tow'r alway.

Upon Jehovah will I call,
who hath all praise deserv'd,
So shall I from mine enemies
be sure to be preserv'd.
The cords and sorrows of pale death
about beset me round,
The torrents of ungodly men
did me with fear confound,

The doleful sorrows of the grave
about environ'd mee,
The snares of death prevented me,
there was no way to flee.
In this distresse to God I call'd,
and lift up my loud cry
Unto my God, my voice he heard
in's Temple by and by.

My cry came up before his face,
entring into his ear,
Immediately the earth did shake
and tremble with great fear.
The firm foundations of the hills
were moved suddenly,
And sorely shook, because his wrath
kindled exceedingly.

Out of his nostrils went a smoak,
out of his mouth a fire
Devouring round about, and coals
were kindled in his ire.
Then he descended from above,
and bow'd the Heavens high,
And underneath his foot he cast
the darknesse of the skie.

The Second part.

He flew, and rode on Cherubims
in wondrous majestie,
And on the wings of whirling winds
he swiftly flew on high.
Darknesse he made his secret place,
his tents about him were,
Waters obscure and dark, inclos'd
in thick clouds of the aire,

At the bright lightnings which brake forth,
and so before him went,
His thick clouds past away, hailstones
and coals of fire were sent.
The Lord from Heaven thundered,
the Highest gave his voice,
Hailstones and burning coals of fire
he threw with fearful noise.

Such arrows he sent one abroad,
and his foes scattered,
His lightnings he sent forth in wrath,
and them discomfited.
At thy rebuke the chanels, Lord,
of Rivers were made dry,
And at thy blasting breath, the worlds
foundations open lie.

From Heav'n he sent and took me up,
and me in safety plac't,
And out of many waters deep
he drew me out in hast.
From my strong foes that hated me,
he then did set me free,
I could not stand against them, for
they were too strong for mee.

They unawares preventing me,
surpriz'd me in the day
Of my calamity, but then
the Lord God was my stay.
He brought me out of straights into
a place of libertie,
And me delivered, because
he took delight in me.

The Third Part.

According to my righteousnesse
the Lord did me regard,
After the cleannesse of my hands
he gave me my reward.
For all the Lords ways have I kept,
and walk'd in faithfully.
And from the Lord my God have not
departed wickedly.

For all his judgements carefully
I did before me lay,
From me his statutes and his laws
I did not put away.
And in his presence I did walk
in all sinceritie,
And carefully I kept me from
mine own iniquitie.

Wherefore after my righteousnesse
the Lord rewarded mee,
After the cleannesse of my hands
which his pure eyes did see.
To men of mercy merciful
thou wilt thy self declare,
And thou wilt shew thy self upright
with such as upright are.

Pure and sincere thou art to men
pure and sincere in heart,
And unto froward men wilt be
as crosse and overthwart.
For thou the poor afflicted ones
wilt save that seek thy face,
But men of high and lofty looks
wilt bring low and abase.

The Lord will light my candle so
that it shall shine forth bright;
The Lord my God himself will make
my darknesse to be light.
Yea by thy might I run through Troups
of men that me withstand,
Over an high strong wall I leapt
by pow'r of my Gods hand.

The Fourth Part.

Perfect and righteous is Gods way,
his Word refin'd and tri'd,
A buckler is he to all that
trusting in him abide.
Who save the Lord is God , who but
our God's a rock and tow'r?
'Tis God that perfect makes my way,
and girdeth me with power.

Like to the feet of swiftest hindes
he makes my feet to be,
And upon my high places sets
me in securitie.
He strengthneth and instructeth too
mine hands to warre and fight,
Mine arm doth break a bow of steel
in sunder by his might.

The shield of thy salvation,
Lord, thou hast given me,
Thy gentlenesse hath made me great,
thy right hand holdeth me.
My paths and steps therein, thou hast
enlarged under mee,
So that I safely walk, my feet
are kept from sliding free.

Mine enemies whom I pursu'd,
I overtook in flight,
Nor did I turn again until
they were consumed quite.
I have them wounded, so that they
could never rise again,
Under my feet mine enemies
are cast, and fall down slain.

Unto the fight and battail thou
hast girded me with strength,
Such as against me rose, thou hast
subdu'd to me at length.
And thou hast given me the necks
of all my foes, that I
Might all them utterly destroy
that hate me wrongfully.

The Fifth Part.

None came to save them in distresse,
though they did cry and call,
Yea, though unto the Lord they sought,
he answered not at all.
Then did I beat them small as dust
which winds drive to and fro,
And cast them out as dirt which men
into the streets do throw.

From strivings of the people thou
hast me delivered,
And of the Heathen people hast
made me to be the head.
A people whom I have not known
to me shall servants be,
As soon as they of me do hear,
they shall submit to me.

Yea, strangers shall submit themselves
to me; though feignedly;
Their hearts shall fail, and fear in those
close places where they lie.
The Lord for ever lives, my God
be blessed with all praise,
The God of my salvation
exalted be alwaies.

God doth avenge me, and subdue
the people under me,
And from my foes delivers me,
and safely sets me free.
Thou liftest me above all them
that up against me rose,
And from the men of violence
sav'st me that me oppose.

Therefore among the Heathen folk
to thee give thanks will I,
O Lord, and unto thy great name
sing praise continually.
He great deliverance to his King
giveth, and mercy store,
To his anointed David, and
his seed for evermore.