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Psalms · Bible in Basic English

Psalm 18 Bible in Basic English

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About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

Notes on this text (1)

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.

Cross references (50)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 2 Samuel 22:1–51; Colossians 1:11; 1 John 4:19; Isaiah 12:1–6; Philippians 4:13
  2. 2 Psalm 144:2; Psalm 62:7; Proverbs 18:10; Psalm 19:14; Psalm 91:2
  3. 3 Psalm 91:15; Luke 1:71; Romans 8:31–39; Psalm 62:8; 2 Samuel 22:4
  4. 4 Psalm 116:3; 2 Corinthians 1:9; Matthew 27:24–25; Mark 14:33–34; Psalm 22:12–13
  5. 5 Psalm 86:13; Psalm 88:15–17; Psalm 88:3–8; Acts 2:24; Ecclesiastes 9:12
  6. 6 Psalm 50:15; 2 Samuel 22:7; Psalm 34:15; Psalm 130:1–2; Psalm 120:1
  7. 7 Acts 4:31; Psalm 68:7–8; Ezekiel 38:19–20; Jeremiah 4:24; Acts 16:25–26
  8. 8 Psalm 21:9; Psalm 11:6; Nahum 1:5–6; Leviticus 10:2; Psalm 144:5–6
  9. 9 Psalm 144:5–15; Deuteronomy 33:26; 2 Peter 3:10; 2 Samuel 22:10; Deuteronomy 5:22–23
  10. 10 Psalm 104:3; 2 Samuel 22:11–12; Psalm 99:1; Ezekiel 10:20–22; Psalm 80:1
  11. 11 Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalm 97:2; Joel 2:2; Psalm 81:7; Psalm 91:1
  12. 12 Joshua 10:11; Revelation 16:21; Matthew 17:5; Exodus 9:23–24; Matthew 17:2
  13. 13 Psalm 104:7; 1 Samuel 7:10; Psalm 140:10; Psalm 29:3–4; Revelation 8:5
  14. 14 Psalm 144:6; Habakkuk 3:11; Numbers 24:8; Job 6:4; Joshua 10:10
  15. 15 Psalm 106:9; Exodus 15:8; Job 4:9; Psalm 76:6; Micah 6:2
  16. 16 2 Samuel 22:17; Psalm 144:7; Psalm 57:3; Jonah 2:5–6; Psalm 18:43
  17. 17 Hebrews 2:14–15; Job 16:9; Psalm 35:10; Psalm 142:6; Psalm 69:4–14
  18. 18 Obadiah 10–14; Psalm 46:11; Jeremiah 18:17; Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalm 59:16
  19. 19 Psalm 118:5; Psalm 31:8; Psalm 18:36; Job 36:16; Psalm 40:2
  20. 20 Psalm 24:4; Matthew 6:4; 1 Corinthians 3:8; Psalm 58:11; Job 22:30
  21. 21 Psalm 119:102; Psalm 26:1; Acts 24:16; Psalm 17:4; 1 John 2:19
  22. 22 Psalm 119:13; Psalm 119:112; Psalm 119:30; Psalm 119:117; Psalm 119:128
  23. 23 Matthew 18:8–9; Matthew 5:29–30; Psalm 37:27; 1 Chronicles 29:17; 1 Samuel 26:23
  24. 24 Matthew 10:41–42; Ruth 2:12; 1 Samuel 26:23; Hebrews 6:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:6–7
  25. 25 Matthew 5:7; Psalm 62:12; Matthew 18:33–35; 1 Kings 8:32; Nehemiah 9:17
  26. 26 Proverbs 3:34; Leviticus 26:23–24; James 2:13; Leviticus 26:27–28; Psalm 109:17–19
  27. 27 Isaiah 66:2; Isaiah 57:15; James 2:5; 2 Samuel 22:28; Psalm 101:5
  28. 28 2 Samuel 22:29; Job 29:3; Isaiah 42:16; Matthew 4:16; Luke 1:79
  29. 29 2 Samuel 22:30; Ephesians 6:10–13; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Revelation 3:21; Colossians 2:15
  30. 30 Deuteronomy 32:4; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 84:11–12; Psalm 12:6
  31. 31 Deuteronomy 32:31; Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 45:5; 2 Samuel 22:32; Deuteronomy 32:39
  32. 32 Isaiah 45:5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Samuel 22:33; Psalm 28:7; Psalm 91:2
  33. 33 Habakkuk 3:19; Deuteronomy 32:13; Deuteronomy 33:29; 2 Samuel 2:18; 2 Samuel 22:14
  34. 34 Psalm 144:1; Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 45:1; Isaiah 28:6; 2 Samuel 22:36
  35. 35 2 Samuel 22:36; James 3:17–18; Psalm 28:7; Galatians 5:22–23; 2 Corinthians 10:1
  36. 36 Proverbs 4:12; 2 Samuel 22:37; Job 36:16; Psalm 4:1; Luke 12:50
  37. 37 Isaiah 53:10–12; Psalm 44:5; Psalm 37:20; Psalm 9:3; Isaiah 63:1–6
  38. 38 Psalm 36:12; 2 Samuel 10:1–19; 2 Samuel 5:1–25; 2 Samuel 21:15–22; 2 Samuel 18:7–8
  39. 39 2 Samuel 22:40–41; Psalm 18:32; 1 Corinthians 15:25–28; Isaiah 45:14; Ephesians 1:22
  40. 40 Psalm 21:12; Psalm 94:23
  41. 41 Proverbs 1:28; Job 27:9; Isaiah 1:15; Psalm 50:22; Job 35:12–13
  42. 42 Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 41:15–16; Zechariah 10:5; 2 Kings 13:7; Isaiah 41:2
  43. 43 Isaiah 55:5; 2 Samuel 3:1; Isaiah 52:15; 1 Peter 2:10; 2 Samuel 19:9
  44. 44 Psalm 66:3; Psalm 81:15; 2 Samuel 22:44–46; Deuteronomy 33:29; Psalm 68:30
  45. 45 Micah 7:17; James 1:11; Revelation 6:16; Isaiah 24:4
  46. 46 2 Samuel 22:47; Psalm 18:2; Psalm 57:5; Revelation 1:18; John 14:19
  47. 47 Psalm 47:3; Romans 12:19; Psalm 144:2; Nahum 1:2; 2 Samuel 22:48
  48. 48 Psalm 140:11; Psalm 86:14; Psalm 140:4; Psalm 140:1; Psalm 59:1–2
  49. 49 Romans 15:9; 2 Samuel 22:50–51; Psalm 138:4; Psalm 108:1; Psalm 30:12
  50. 50 Psalm 144:10; Psalm 132:10; 2 Samuel 7:13; Psalm 89:3–4; Romans 11:29

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Quotes verse 18:28 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book IV, Chapters XIII–XV)

    "For Thou wilt light my candle; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness; and "of His fulness have all we received," for "that was the true Light which lighted every man that cometh into the world;" for in Thee there is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  2. Quotes verse 18:11 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily LVI)

    … a dark cloud;--as on Mount Sinai; for "Moses," it is said, "entered into the cloud, and into the thick darkness; and as a vapor, so went up the smoke;" and the prophet said, when speaking of His threatening, "Dark water in clouds of the air;" --so here, because it was His desire not to alarm, but to teach, it is …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  3. Quotes verse 18:9 Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (Lecture XII)

    Another also of the Prophets said, He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under His feet.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)

  4. Quotes verse 18:11 Gregory of Nazianzus, Theological Orations (The Second Theological Oration)

    Therefore this darkness of the body has been placed between us and God, like the cloud of old between the Egyptians and the Hebrews; and this is perhaps what is meant by "He made darkness His secret place," namely our dulness, through which few can see even a little.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)

  5. Quotes verse 18:28 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book XIII, Chapters VI–XI)

    … discovered their own darkness, dost Thou sufficiently disclose how noble Thou hast made the rational creature; to which nought which is inferior to Thee will suffice to yield a happy rest, and so not even herself. For Thou, O our God, shalt enlighten our darkness; from Thee are derived our garments of light, and then shall our darkness be as …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)