Psalm 18:29-50

Contemporary English Version

³⁰ Your way is perfect, Lord,
    and your word is correct.
You are a shield for those
    who run to you for help.
³¹ You alone are God!
    Only you are a mighty rock.^[a]
32 You give me strength
    and guide me right.
^33 (A) You make my feet run as fast
    as those of a deer,
and you help me stand
    on the mountains.

³⁴ You teach my hands to fight
and my arms to use
    a bow of bronze.
³⁵ You alone are my shield.
    Your right hand supports me,
and by coming to help me,
    you have made me famous.
³⁶ You clear the way for me,
    and now I won't stumble.

³⁷ I kept chasing my enemies,
until I caught them
    and destroyed them.
³⁸ I stuck my sword
    through my enemies,
and they were crushed
    under my feet.
³⁹ You helped me win victories,
and you forced my attackers
    to fall victim to me.

⁴⁰ You made my enemies run,
    and I killed them.
⁴¹ They cried out for help,
    but no one saved them;
they called out to you,
    but there was no answer.
⁴² I ground them to dust
    blown by the wind,
and I poured them out
    like mud in the streets.

⁴³ You rescued me
    from stubborn people,
and you made me the leader
of foreign nations,
    who are now my slaves.
⁴⁴ They obey and come crawling.
⁴⁵     They have lost all courage,
and from their fortresses,
    they come trembling.

⁴⁶ You are the living Lord!
    I will praise you.
You are a mighty rock.^[b]
I will honor you
    for keeping me safe.
⁴⁷ You took revenge for me,
and you put nations
    in my power.
⁴⁸ You protected me
    from violent enemies
and made me much greater
    than all of them.

^49 (B) I will praise you, Lord,
and I will honor you
    among the nations.
⁵⁰ You give glorious victories
    to your chosen king.
Your faithful love for David
and for his descendants
    will never end.