The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Psalms 18

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Ketuvim — the Writings

Psalms chapter 18 — part of the Ketuvim — the Writings in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “For the Leader. A Psalm of David the servant of HaShem, who spoke unto HaShem the words of this song in the day that HaShem delivered…” — the complete text of all 51 verses is below, free to read online.

1For the Leader. A Psalm of David the servant of HaShem, who spoke unto HaShem the words of this song in the day that HaShem delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul;

2And he said: I love thee, O HaShem, my strength.

3HaShem is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my G-d, my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower.

4Praised, I cry, is HaShem, and I am saved from mine enemies.

5The cords of Death compassed me, and the floods of Belial assailed me.

6The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of Death confronted me.

7In my distress I called upon HaShem, and cried unto my G-d; out of His temple He heard my voice, and my cry came before Him unto His ears.

8Then the earth did shake and quake, the foundations also of the mountains did tremble; they were shaken, because He was wroth.

9Smoke arose up in His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth did devour; coals flamed forth from Him.

10He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.

11And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, He did swoop down upon the wings of the wind.

12He made darkness His hiding-place, His pavilion round about Him; darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

13At the brightness before Him, there passed through His thick clouds hailstones and coals of fire.

14HaShem also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High gave forth His voice; hailstones and coals of fire.

15And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them; and He shot forth lightnings, and discomfited them.

16And the channels of waters appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare, at Thy rebuke, O HaShem, at the blast of the breath of Thy nostrils.

17He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.

18He delivered me from mine enemy most strong, and from them that hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

19They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but HaShem was a stay unto me.

20He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.

21HaShem rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me.

22For I have kept the ways of HaShem, and have not wickedly departed from my G-d.

23For all His ordinances were before me, and I put not away His statutes from me.

24And I was single-hearted with Him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

25Therefore hath HaShem recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

26With the merciful Thou dost show Thyself merciful, with the upright man Thou dost show Thyself upright;

27With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; and with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself subtle.

28For Thou dost save the afflicted people; but the haughty eyes Thou dost humble.

29For Thou dost light my lamp; HaShem my G-d doth lighten my darkness.

30For by Thee I run upon a troop; and by my G-d do I scale a wall.

31As for G-d, His way is perfect; the word of HaShem is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in Him.

32For who is G-d, save HaShem? And who is a Rock, except our G-d?

33The G-d that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way straight;

34Who maketh my feet like hinds', and setteth me upon my high places;

35Who traineth my hands for war, so that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.

36Thou hast also given me Thy shield of salvation, and Thy right hand hath holden me up; and Thy condescension hath made me great.

37Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped.

38I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them; neither did I turn back till they were consumed.

39I have smitten them through, so that they are not able to rise; they are fallen under my feet.

40For Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

41Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, and I did cut off them that hate me.

42They cried, but there was none to save; even unto HaShem, but He answered them not.

43Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.

44Thou hast delivered me from the contentions of the people; Thou hast made me the head of the nations; a people whom I have not known serve me.

45As soon as they hear of me, they obey me; the sons of the stranger dwindle away before me.

46The sons of the stranger fade away, and come trembling out of their close places.

47HaShem liveth, and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the G-d of my salvation;

48Even the G-d that executeth vengeance for me, and subdueth peoples under me.

49He delivereth me from mine enemies; yea, Thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.

50Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O HaShem, among the nations, and will sing praises unto Thy name.

51Great salvation giveth He to His king; and showeth mercy to His anointed, to David and to his seed, for evermore.

51 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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