Skip to the text

Psalms · Free Bible Version

Psalm 18 Free Bible Version

Leer en español
About FBV
  • Individual translator
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Critical text
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Dynamic (thought for thought)
  • 2018
  • CC BY-SA 4.0

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

Notes on this text (1)
FBV Free Bible Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 To the music director. A psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who sang the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord saved him from all his enemies, and from Saul. He sang: I love you, Lord. You are my strength.
1 For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of Yahweh, who spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, I love you, Yahweh, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior. He is my God, my rock who protects me. He shields me from harm, his power protects me, he keeps me safe.
2 Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
3 I call for help from the Lord who should be praised, and he saves me from those who hate me.
3 I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies.
4 Ropes of death encircled me, surging waters of destruction flooded over me;
4 The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The grave wound its ropes around me; death set snares for me.
5 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me.
6 In my despair I called on the Lord—I cried out to my God for help. He heard my voice from his Temple—my cry for help reached his ears.
6 In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears.
7 The earth shook to and fro; the foundations of the mountains trembled, shaking because of his anger.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
8 Smoke came out of his nostrils, and fire came from his mouth; burning coals blazed before him.
8 Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down, with dark clouds beneath his feet.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
10 Riding on an angel he flew, swooping on the wings of the wind.
10 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He hid himself in darkness, covering himself with black thunderclouds.
11 He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 Hailstones and burning coals flew out from his brightness, passing through his thick clouds.
12 At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High sounded among the hailstones and burning coals.
13 Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He fired his arrows, scattering his enemies; he routed them with his lightning bolts.
14 He sent out his arrows, and scattered them. He routed them with great lightning bolts.
15 You roared, Lord, and by the wind from the breath of your nostrils the valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth were uncovered.
15 Then the channels of waters appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16 He reached down his hand from above and grabbed hold of me. He pulled me out of the deep water.
16 He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and who were much stronger than me.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
18 They came at me at my worst possible moment, but the Lord supported me.
18 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
19 He set me free, he rescued me because he's my friend.
19 He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The Lord rewarded me because I do what's right; he repaid me because I am innocent.
20 Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, he has recompensed me.
21 For I have followed the Lord's ways; I have not sinned by turning away from my God.
21 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 I have kept all his laws in mind; I have not ignored his commandments.
22 For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away his statutes from me.
23 I am blameless in his sight; I keep myself from sinning.
23 I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 The Lord rewarded me for doing what's right. I am innocent in his sight.
24 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25 You show trust to those who trust; you show integrity to those with integrity,
25 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.
26 You show yourself pure to those who are pure, but you show yourself smart to those who are crafty.
26 With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble, but you bring down the proud.
27 For you will save the afflicted people, but the arrogant eyes you will bring down.
28 You light my lamp! Lord, my God, you light up my darkness!
28 For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.
29 With you, I can charge down a troop of soldiers; with you, my God, I can climb a fortress wall.
29 For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
30 God's way is absolutely right. What the Lord says is trustworthy. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
30 As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God except the Lord? Who is the rock, except our God?
31 For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God,
32 God makes me strong and keeps me safe.
32 the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?
33 He makes me surefooted like the deer, able to walk the heights in safety.
33 He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and sets me on my high places.
34 He teaches me how to fight in battle; he gives me the strength to draw a bronze bow.
34 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
35 You protect me with the shield of your salvation; you support me with your powerful right hand; your help has made me great.
35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You gave me space in which to walk, and prevented my feet from slipping.
36 You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped.
37 I chased my enemies, and caught up with them. I did not turn around until I had destroyed them.
37 I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. I won’t turn away until they are consumed.
38 I struck them down—they couldn't get up. They fell at my feet.
38 I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet.
39 You made me strong for battle; you made those who rose up against me kneel down before me.
39 For you have armed me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You made my enemies run away; I destroyed all my enemies.
40 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
41 They cried out for help, but no one came to rescue them. They even called out to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
41 They cried, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
42 I ground them into dust, like dust in the wind. I threw them out like mud in the street.
42 Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets.
43 You rescued me from rebellious people; you made me ruler over nations—people I didn't know now serve me.
43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they obey; foreigners cringe before me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me.
45 They lose heart, and come trembling in surrender from their strongholds.
45 The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their strongholds.
46 The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock! May the God who saves me be praised!
46 Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,
47 God avenges me, he subdues peoples under me,
47 even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me.
48 he rescues me from those who hate me. You keep me safe from those who rebel against me, you save me from violent men.
48 He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.
49 That's why I will praise you among the nations, Lord; I will sing praises about who you are.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name.
50 You have saved the king so often, showing your trustworthy love to David, your anointed, and to his descendants forever.
50 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.
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)