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Psalms · Young's Literal Translation

Psalm 18 Young's Literal Translation

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About YLT
  • Individual translator
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Textus Receptus
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Very literal
  • 1898
  • Public domain

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

Notes on this text (1)
YLT Young's Literal Translation
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 To the Overseer. — By a servant of Jehovah, by David, who hath spoken to Jehovah the words of this song in the day Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, and he saith: — I love Thee, O Jehovah, 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 Jehovah [is] my rock, and my bulwark, And my deliverer, My God [is] my rock, I trust in Him: My shield, and a horn of my salvation, My high tower.
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 The 'Praised One' I call Jehovah, And from my enemies I am saved.
3 I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies.
4 Compassed me have cords of death, And streams of the worthless make me afraid.
4 The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been snares of death.
5 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me.
6 In mine adversity I call Jehovah, And unto my God I cry. He heareth from His temple my voice, And My cry before Him cometh into 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 And shake and tremble doth the earth, And foundations of hills are troubled, And they shake — because He hath wrath.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
8 Gone up hath smoke by His nostrils, And fire from His mouth consumeth, Coals have been kindled by it.
8 Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.
9 And He inclineth the heavens, and cometh down, And thick darkness [is] under His feet.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
10 And He rideth on a cherub, and doth fly, And He flieth on wings of wind.
10 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He maketh darkness His secret place, Round about Him His tabernacle, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
11 He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness over-against Him His thick clouds have passed on, Hail and coals of fire.
12 At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.
13 And thunder in the heavens doth Jehovah, And the Most High giveth forth His voice, Hail and coals of fire.
13 Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And He sendeth His arrows and scattereth them, And much lightning, and crusheth them.
14 He sent out his arrows, and scattered them. He routed them with great lightning bolts.
15 And seen are the streams of waters, And revealed are foundations of the earth. From Thy rebuke, O Jehovah, From the breath of the spirit of Thine anger.
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 sendeth from above — He taketh me, He draweth me out of many waters.
16 He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivereth me from my strong enemy, And from those hating me, For they have been stronger than I.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
18 They go before me in a day of my calamity And Jehovah is for a support to me.
18 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
19 And He bringeth me forth to a large place, He draweth me out, because He delighted in me.
19 He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 Jehovah doth recompense me According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, He doth return to me.
20 Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, he has recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not done wickedly against my God.
21 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments [are] before me, And His statutes I turn not from me.
22 For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away his statutes from me.
23 And I am perfect with him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity.
23 I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 And Jehovah doth return to me, According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, Over-against his eyes.
24 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25 With the kind Thou showest Thyself kind, With a perfect man showest Thyself perfect.
25 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.
26 With the pure Thou showest Thyself pure, And with the perverse showest Thyself a wrestler,
26 With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
27 For Thou a poor people savest, And the eyes of the high causest to fall.
27 For you will save the afflicted people, but the arrogant eyes you will bring down.
28 For Thou — Thou lightest my lamp, Jehovah my God enlighteneth my darkness.
28 For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.
29 For by Thee I run — a troop! And by my God I leap a wall.
29 For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
30 God! perfect [is] His way, The saying of Jehovah is tried, A shield [is] He to all those trusting in Him.
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 besides Jehovah? And who [is] a rock save our God?
31 For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God,
32 God! who is girding me [with] strength, And He maketh perfect my way.
32 the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?
33 Making my feet like hinds, And on my high places causeth me to stand.
33 He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and sets me on my high places.
34 Teaching my hands for battle, And a bow of brass was brought down by my arms.
34 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
35 And Thou givest to me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy right hand doth support me, And Thy lowliness maketh 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 Thou enlargest my step under me, And mine ankles have not slidden.
36 You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped.
37 I pursue mine enemies, and overtake them, And turn back not till they are consumed.
37 I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. I won’t turn away until they are consumed.
38 I smite them, and they are not able to rise, They fall under my feet,
38 I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet.
39 And Thou girdest me [with] strength for battle, Causest my withstanders to bow under me.
39 For you have armed me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 As to mine enemies — Thou hast given to me the neck, As to those hating me — I cut them off.
40 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
41 They cry, and there is no saviour, On Jehovah, and He doth not answer them.
41 They cried, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
42 And I beat them as dust before wind, As mire of the streets I empty them out.
42 Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets.
43 Thou dost deliver me From the strivings of the people, Thou placest me for a head of nations, A people I have not known do 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 At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me, Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me,
44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me.
45 Sons of a stranger fade away, And are slain out of their close places.
45 The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their strongholds.
46 Jehovah liveth — and blessed [is] my rock, And exalted is the God of my salvation.
46 Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,
47 God — who is giving vengeance to me, And He subdueth peoples under me,
47 even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me.
48 My deliverer from mine enemies, Above my withstanders Thou raisest me, From a man of violence dost deliver me.
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 Therefore I confess Thee among nations, O Jehovah, And to Thy name I sing praise,
49 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name.
50 Magnifying the salvation of His king, And doing kindness to His anointed, To David, and to his seed — unto the age!
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)