Passage

Psalms 18

Book: Psalms · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. ^{For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of Jehovah, who spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he said,} I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength. 2. Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. 3. I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies. 4. The cords of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 5. The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me. 6. In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry before him came into his ears. 7. Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the mountains quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth. 8. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. 9. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet. 10. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind. 11. He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 12. At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire. 13. Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. 14. And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them. 15. Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. 16. He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters. 17. He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; For they were too mighty for me. 18. They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay. 19. He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20. Jehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21. For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 22. For all his ordinances were before me, And I put not away his statutes from me. 23. I was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity. 24. Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect; 26. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward. 27. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; But the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down. 28. For thou wilt light my lamp: Jehovah my God will lighten my darkness. 29. For by thee I run upon a troop; And by my God do I leap over a wall. 30. As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him. 31. For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, besides our God, 32. The God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect? 33. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: And setteth me upon my high places. 34. He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass. 35. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy gentleness hath made me great. 36. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. 37. I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them; Neither will I turn again till they are consumed. 38. I will smite them through, so that they shall not be able to rise: They shall fall under my feet. 39. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 40. Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me. 41. They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not. 42. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets. 43. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; Thou hast 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 shall obey me; The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me. 45. The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places. 46. Jehovah liveth; And blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, 47. Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And subdueth peoples under me. 48. He rescueth me from mine enemies; Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man. 49. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name. 50. Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore." (Psalms 18:1-50, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"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. 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 on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies. 4. The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 5. The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me. 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. Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. 8. Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. 9. He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. 10. He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind. 11. He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 12. At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire. 13. Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire. 14. He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them. 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 sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters. 17. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. 18. They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support. 19. He brought me out also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20. Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me. 21. For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22. For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away his statutes from me. 23. I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 24. Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. 25. With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. 26. With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 27. For you will save the afflicted people, but the haughty eyes you will bring down. 28. For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness. 29. For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. 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 Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God, 32. the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect? 33. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and sets me on my high places. 34. He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze. 35. You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great. 36. You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped. 37. I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed. 38. I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet. 39. For you have armed me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 40. You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. 41. They cried, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them. 42. Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets. 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 shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me. 45. The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their close places. 46. Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation, 47. even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under 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 will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name. 50. He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more." (Psalms 18:1-50, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. To 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. 2. The 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. ^{my strength: Heb. my rock} 3. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 4. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. ^{ungodly men: Heb. Belial} 5. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. ^{sorrows: or, cords} 6. In 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. 7. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. 8. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. ^{out of his nostrils: Heb. by his, etc} 9. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. 10. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. 11. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. 13. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. 15. Then 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. 16. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. ^{many: or, great} 17. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 19. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 20. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. 23. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. ^{before: Heb. with} 24. Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. ^{in: Heb. before his eyes} 25. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. ^{shew thyself froward: or, wrestle} 27. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. 28. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. ^{candle: or, lamp} 29. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. ^{run: or, broken} 30. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. ^{tried: or, refined} 31. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? 32. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. 33. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 35. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. ^{thy gentleness: or, with thy meekness thou hast multiplied me} 36. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. ^{my feet: Heb. mine ankles} 37. I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 39. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. ^{subdued: Heb. caused to bow} 40. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 41. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 42. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. 43. Thou 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. 44. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. ^{As soon: Heb. At the hearing of the ear} ^{submit: or, yield feigned obedience} ^{strangers: Heb. sons of the stranger} 45. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. ^{strangers: Heb. sons of the stranger} 46. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. 47. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. ^{avengeth: Heb. giveth avengements for} ^{subdueth: or, destroyeth} 48. He 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. ^{violent: Heb. man of violence} 49. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. ^{give: or, confess} 50. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore." (Psalms 18:1-50, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"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. 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. 3. The 'Praised One' I call Jehovah, And from my enemies I am saved. 4. Compassed me have cords of death, And streams of the worthless make me afraid. 5. Cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been snares of death. 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. 7. And shake and tremble doth the earth, And foundations of hills are troubled, And they shake, because He hath wrath. 8. Gone up hath smoke by His nostrils, And fire from His mouth consumeth, Coals have been kindled by it. 9. And He inclineth the heavens, and cometh down, And thick darkness [is] under His feet. 10. And He rideth on a cherub, and doth fly, And He flieth on wings of wind. 11. He maketh darkness His secret place, Round about Him His tabernacle, 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. 13. And thunder in the heavens doth Jehovah, And the Most High giveth forth His voice, Hail and coals of fire. 14. And He sendeth His arrows and scattereth them, And much lightning, and crusheth them. 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. 16. He sendeth from above, He taketh me, He draweth 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. 18. They go before me in a day of my calamity And Jehovah is for a support to me. 19. And He bringeth me forth to a large place, He draweth me out, 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. 21. For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not done wickedly against my God. 22. For all His judgments [are] before me, And His statutes I turn not from me. 23. And I am perfect with him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity. 24. And Jehovah doth return to me, According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, Over-against his eyes. 25. With the kind Thou showest Thyself kind, With a perfect man showest Thyself perfect. 26. With the pure Thou showest Thyself pure, And with the perverse showest Thyself a wrestler, 27. For Thou a poor people savest, And the eyes of the high causest to fall. 28. For Thou, Thou lightest my lamp, Jehovah my God enlighteneth my darkness. 29. For by Thee I run, a troop! And by my God I leap a wall. 30. God! perfect [is] His way, The saying of Jehovah is tried, A shield [is] He to all those trusting in Him. 31. For who [is] God besides Jehovah? And who [is] a rock save our God? 32. God! who is girding me [with] strength, And He maketh perfect my way. 33. Making my feet like hinds, And on my high places causeth me to stand. 34. Teaching my hands for battle, And a bow of brass was brought down by my arms. 35. And Thou givest to me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy right hand doth support me, And Thy lowliness maketh me great. 36. Thou enlargest my step under me, And mine ankles have not slidden. 37. I pursue mine enemies, and overtake them, And turn back not till they are consumed. 38. I smite them, and they are not able to rise, They fall under my feet, 39. And Thou girdest me [with] strength for battle, Causest my withstanders to bow under me. 40. As to mine enemies, Thou hast given to me the neck, As to those hating me, I cut them off. 41. They cry, and there is no saviour, On Jehovah, and He doth not answer them. 42. And I beat them as dust before wind, As mire of the streets I empty them out. 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. 44. At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me, Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me, 45. Sons of a stranger fade away, And are slain out of their close places. 46. Jehovah liveth, and blessed [is] my rock, And exalted is the God of my salvation. 47. God, who is giving vengeance to me, And He subdueth peoples under me, 48. My deliverer from mine enemies, Above my withstanders Thou raisest me, From a man of violence dost deliver me. 49. Therefore I confess Thee among nations, O Jehovah, And to Thy name I sing praise, 50. Magnifying the salvation of His king, And doing kindness to His anointed, To David, and to his seed, unto the age!" (Psalms 18:1-50, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word.

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Quoted in

_log-archive-2026-05

Notes

Your annotations.

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.