Psalms18
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 To the . A Psalm of , the of the Lord, who the of to the Lord on the when the Lord him the of his , and the of . He : I you, O Lord, my .
2 The Lord is my and my and my , my , my , in whom I , my , and the of my , my .
3 I upon the Lord, who is worthy to be , and I am my .
4 The of me; the of me;
5 the of me; the of me.
6 In my I upon the Lord; to my I cried for . his he my , and my his .
7 Then the and ; the also of the and , he was .
8 from his , and his ; glowing him.
9 He the and came ; was his .
10 He a and ; he on the of the .
11 He his , his him, thick with .
12 of the him and of broke his .
13 The Lord also in the , and the his , and of .
14 And he sent his and them; he and them.
15 Then the of the were , and the of the were at your , O Lord, at the of the of your .
16 He on , he me; he me of .
17 He me my and those who me, for me.
18 They me in the of my , but the Lord was my .
19 He brought me into a ; he me, he in me.
20 The Lord with me according to my ; according to the of my he me.
21 I have the of the Lord, and have wickedly my .
22 all his were me, and his I did put me.
23 I was him, and I myself my .
24 So the Lord has me according to my , according to the of my in his .
25 the you show yourself ; the you show yourself ;
26 the you show yourself ; and the you make yourself seem .
27 you a , but the you .
28 it is you who my ; the Lord my my .
29 by you I can a , and by my I can a .
30 This —his is ; the of the Lord ; he is a for those who in him.
31 is , the Lord? And is a , our ?—
32 the who me with and my .
33 He my like the feet of a and me the .
34 He my for , so that my can a of .
35 You have me the of your , and your me, and your made me .
36 You gave a for my me, and my did .
37 I my and them, and did they were .
38 I thrust them , so that they were to ; they my .
39 For you me with for the ; you made those who against me me.
40 You my their to me, and those who me I .
41 They for help, but there was to ; they cried the Lord, but he did them.
42 I them fine as the ; I cast them like the of the .
43 You me with the ; you me the of the ; whom I had me.
44 As as they of me they me; to me.
45 and of their .
46 The Lord , and be my , and be the of my —
47 the who me and me,
48 who me my ; , you me those who against me; you me the of .
49 I will you, O Lord, , and to your .
50 he brings to his , and to his , to and his .
Study
Psalms 18Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 18. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David rejoices in the deliverances God wrought for him. (1–19). He takes the comfort of his integrity, which God had cleared up. (20–28). He gives to God the glory of all his mighty deeds. (29–50).
vv1-19
The first words, “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength,” are the scope and contents of the psalm. Those that truly love God, may triumph in him as their Rock and Refuge, and may with confidence call upon him. It is good for us to observe all the circumstances of a mercy which magnify the power of God and his goodness to us in it. David was a praying man, and God was found a prayer-hearing God. If we pray as he did, we shall speed as he did. God's manifestation of his presence is very fully described, verses 7–15. Little appeared of man, but much of God, in these deliverances. It is not possible to apply to the history of the son of Jesse those awful, majestic, and stupendous words which are used through this description of the Divine manifestation. Every part of so solemn a scene of terrors tells us, a greater than David is here. God will not only deliver his people out of their troubles in due time, but he will bear them up under their troubles in the mean time. Can we meditate on verse 18, without directing one thought to Gethsemane and Calvary? Can we forget that it was in the hour of Christ's deepest calamity, when Judas betrayed, when his friends forsook, when the multitude derided him, and the smiles of his Father's love were withheld, that the powers of darkness prevented him? The sorrows of death surrounded him, in his distress he prayed, Heb 5:7. God made the earth to shake and tremble, and the rocks to cleave, and brought him out, in his resurrection, because he delighted in him and in his undertaking.
vv20-28
Those that forsake the ways of the Lord, depart from their God. But though conscious to ourselves of many a false step, let there not be a wicked departure from our God. David kept his eye upon the rule of God's commands. Constant care to keep from that sin, whatever it be, which most easily besets us, proves that we are upright before God. Those who show mercy to others, even they need mercy. Those who are faithful to God, shall find him all that to them which he has promised to be. The words of the Lord are pure words, very sure to be depended on, and very sweet to be delighted in. Those who resist God, and walk contrary to him, shall find that he will walk contrary to them, Le 26:21–24. The gracious recompence of which David spoke, may generally be expected by those who act from right motives. Hence he speaks comfort to the humble, and terror to the proud; “Thou wilt bring down high looks.” And he speaks encouragement to himself; “Thou wilt light my candle:” thou wilt revive and comfort my sorrowful spirit; thou wilt guide my way, that I may avoid the snares laid for me. Thou wilt light my candle to work by, and give me an opportunity of serving thee. Let those that walk in darkness, and labour under discouragements, take courage; God himself will be a Light to them.
vv29-50
When we praise for one mercy, we must observe the many more, with which we have been compassed all our days. Many things had contributed to David's advancement, and he owns the hand of God in them all, to teach us to do likewise. In verse 32, and the following verses, are the gifts of God to the spiritual warrior, whereby he is prepared for the contest, after the example of his victorious Leader. Learn that we must seek release being made through Christ, shall be rejected. In David the type, we behold out of trouble through Christ. The prayer put up, without reconciliation Jesus our Redeemer, conflicting with enemies, compassed with sorrows and with floods of ungodly men, enduring not only the pains of death, but the wrath of God for us; yet calling upon the Father with strong cries and tears; rescued from the grave; proceeding to reconcile, or to put under his feet all other enemies, till death, the last enemy, shall be destroyed. We should love the Lord, our Strength, and our Salvation; we should call on him in every trouble, and praise him for every deliverance; we should aim to walk with him in all righteousness and true holiness, keeping from sin. If we belong to him, he conquers and reigns for us, and we shall conquer and reign through him, and partake of the mercy of our anointed King, which is promised to all his seed for evermore. Amen.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
עֶבֶד: a servant
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
נָצַל: to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
Psalms 18An nearly identical historical copy of this entire triumphal song of David.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Explicitly cited by Paul as fulfillment of Christ praising God among the Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Christ's deep distress, prayers, and subsequent resurrection deliverances typified in David.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God walking contrary (froward) to those who walk contrary to Him.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Calvin highlights loving God as the sum and substance of the law.
Supported by John Calvin
Hannah's song share identical metaphors of God as Rock, Horn of salvation, and Deliverer.
Supported by JFB
The dramatic Sinai-like theophany with smoke and devouring fire.
Supported by JFB
Moses praises God using the primary title of 'the Rock' whose way is perfect.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Identical Hebrew terminology of the cords/sorrows of death compassing the psalmist.
Supported by JFB
Saul himself confesses David's righteousness and clean hands in sparing his life.
Supported by JFB
Echoes making feet like hinds' feet and walking on high places.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the rare phrase 'thy gentleness hath made me great'.
Supported by JFB
The loose pains/sorrows of death matching Christ's resurrection victory.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the term 'prevented me in the day of my calamity' in Saul's pursuit.
Supported by JFB
Metaphorical lighting of the candle/lamp to guide through darkness.
Supported by Matthew Henry