Psalms 18
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1To 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, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2The 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.
3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6In 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.
7Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15Then 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.
16He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
42Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43Thou 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.
44As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48He 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.
49Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâhH306819× in this chapter
Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
- כִּיkîyH35889× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- לֹאlôʼH38087× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- אֹיֵבʼôyêbH3416× in this chapter
hating; an adversary
- אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîymH4306× in this chapter
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
- עַלʻalH59216× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- מִןminH44805× in this chapter
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
- נָתַןnâthanH54145× in this chapter
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
- עִםʻimH59735× in this chapter
adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)
- תַּחַתtachathH84785× in this chapter
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
- יָדyâdH30274× in this chapter
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
- אֵלʼêlH4104× in this chapter
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
- עַםʻamH59714× in this chapter
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
- תָּמִיםtâmîymH85494× in this chapter
entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth
- גֶּחֶלgechelH15133× in this chapter
an ember
- דֶּרֶךְderekH18703× in this chapter
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
- יָשַׁעyâshaʻH34673× in this chapter
properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
- יֶשַׁעyeshaʻH34683× in this chapter
liberty, deliverance, prosperity
- כֹּלkôlH36053× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- מָגֵןmâgênH40433× in this chapter
a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile
- מַיִםmayimH43253× in this chapter
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
- נֶגֶדnegedH50483× in this chapter
a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
- נָצַלnâtsalH53373× in this chapter
to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
- פָּלַטpâlaṭH64033× in this chapter
to slip out, i.e. escape; causatively, to deliver
- צוּרtsûwrH66973× in this chapter
properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous)
- קוּםqûwmH69653× in this chapter
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
- רֶגֶלregelH72723× in this chapter
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
- רוּחַrûwachH73073× in this chapter
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
- רוּםrûwmH73113× in this chapter
to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
- שׁוּבshûwbH77253× in this chapter
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
- אֵשׁʼêshH7843× in this chapter
fire (literally or figuratively)
- בֵּןbênH11212× in this chapter
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
- בֹּרbôrH12522× in this chapter
purify
- בָּרָדbârâdH12592× in this chapter
hail
- בָּרַרbârarH13052× in this chapter
to clarify (i.e. brighten), examine, select
- גּוֹיgôwyH14712× in this chapter
a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
- גָּעַשׁgâʻashH16072× in this chapter
to agitate violently
- דָבַרdâbarH16962× in this chapter
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
- דָּוִדDâvidH17322× in this chapter
David, the youngest son of Jesse
- הָיָהhâyâhH19612× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)