Psalm 18*

To the director.* The song of the Lord’s servant, David. David wrote* this song at the time the Lord saved him from Saul and all his other enemies.

¹He said, “Lord my strength, I love you!” ²The Lord is my Rock,* my Fortress,* my Place of Safety.” My God is my Rock. I run to him for protection. God is my shield. His power saves me.* The Lord is my hiding place high in the hills. ³They made fun of me. But I called to the Lord for help, and I was saved from my enemies! ⁴{My enemies were trying to kill me!} The ropes of death were all around me. I was caught in a flood carrying me to that place of death.* ⁵Ropes of the grave were all around me. Traps of death lay before me. ⁶Trapped, I called to the Lord for help. Yes, I called to my God. God was in his temple. He heard my voice. He heard my cry for help. ⁷The earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven shook. Why? Because the Lord was angry! ⁸Smoke came from God’s nose.* Burning flames came from God’s mouth, Burning sparks flew from him. ⁹The Lord tore open the sky, and he came down! He stood on a thick, dark cloud. ¹⁰The Lord was flying {across the sky}, riding on the flying Cherub angels. He was soaring high on the wind. ¹¹The Lord was hidden in the dark clouds that surrounded him like a tent. He was hidden in the thick thunder clouds. ¹²Then, God’s shining brightness broke through the clouds. There was hail and flashes of lightning. ¹³The Lord thundered from the sky! God Most-High let his voice be heard. There was hail and flashes of lightning. ¹⁴The Lord shot his arrows* and scattered the enemy. The Lord sent many bolts of lightning and the people scattered in confusion. ¹⁵Lord, you shouted your command; and a powerful wind began to blow.* {The water was pushed back,} and we could see the bottom of the sea. We could see the earth’s foundations. ¹⁶The Lord reached down from above and saved me. The Lord caught me and pulled me out of deep water (trouble). ¹⁷My enemies were stronger than me. Those people hated me. My enemies were too strong for me, so God saved me. ¹⁸I was in trouble, and my enemies attacked me. But the Lord was there to support me! ¹⁹The Lord loves me, so he rescued me. He took me to a safe place. ²⁰I am innocent, so the Lord will give me my reward. I did nothing wrong, so he will do good things for me. ²¹Why? Because I obeyed the Lord! I did not sin against my God. ²²I always remember the Lord’s decisions. I obey his laws! ²³I was pure and honest with him. I kept myself from doing bad things. ²⁴So the Lord will give me my reward! Why? Because I am innocent! The way God sees it, I did nothing wrong, so he will do good things for me. ²⁵Lord, if a person really loves you, then you will show your true love to him. If a person is true to you, then you will be true to him. ²⁶Lord, you are good and pure to people that are good and pure. But, you can outsmart the meanest and sneakiest people. ²⁷Lord, you help humble people. But you humiliate proud people. ²⁸Lord, you light my lamp. My God lights up the darkness around me! ²⁹With your help, Lord, I can run with the soldiers. With God’s help, I can climb over enemy walls. ³⁰God’s power is complete.* The Lord’s word has been tested. He protects people who trust him. ³¹There is no God except the Lord. There is no Rock,* except our God. ³²God gives me strength. He helps me live a pure life. ³³God helps me run fast like a deer. He keeps me steady in high places. ³⁴God trains me for war, so my arms can bend a powerful bow.* ³⁵God, you protected me and helped me win. You supported me with your right arm. You helped me defeat my enemy. ³⁶Make my legs and ankles strong, so I can walk fast without stumbling. ³⁷Then I can chase my enemies and catch them. I won’t come back until they are destroyed! ³⁸I will defeat my enemies. They won’t get up again. All my enemies will be under my feet. ³⁹God, you made me strong in battle. You made my enemies fall before me. ⁴⁰You gave me a chance to strike at my enemy’s neck, and I cut my opponent down! ⁴¹My enemies called for help, but there was no one to save them. They even called to the Lord, but he did not answer them. ⁴²I beat my enemies to pieces. They were like dust blowing in the wind. I crushed them into small pieces. ⁴³Save me from the people that fight against me. Make me the leader of those nations. People I don’t even know will serve me. ⁴⁴Those people will hear about me and quickly obey me. Those foreigners will be afraid of me. ⁴⁵Those foreigners will wilt with fear. They will come from their hiding places shaking with fear. ⁴⁶The Lord is alive! I praise my Rock,* God saves me. He is great! ⁴⁷God punished my enemies for me. He put people under my control. ⁴⁸Lord, you rescued me from my enemies. You helped me defeat the people who stood against me. You saved me from cruel men. ⁴⁹Lord, that is why I praise you among the nations. That is why I sing songs about your name. ⁵⁰The Lord helps his king win many battles! He shows his true love for his chosen king. He will be loyal to David and his descendants forever!

Psalm 18 This song is also found in 2 Sam. 22. director Or, “performer.” wrote Or, “spoke.” Rock A name for God to show he is a strong place of safety. Fortress A building or city with tall, strong walls for protection. His power saves me Or, “He is the horn of my salvation.” place of death Or, “the place of no return, the grave.” smoke … nose Or, “In his anger, smoke rose {from him}” arrows That is, “lightning.” Lord … blow Or, “Lord, you spoke harshly, and a breath of wind came from your nostrils.” God’s power … complete Or, “God’s way is perfect.” Rock A name for God to show he is a strong place of safety. so my arms … bow Or, “so my arms can string a bronzed bow”—a bow made of sinew, wood, horn, and possibly bronze.

Psalm 19

To the director.* A song of David.*

¹The heavens speak about God’s glory. The skies tell about the good things his hands have made. ²Each new day tells more of the story. And each night reveals more and more about God’s power. ³You can’t really hear any speech or words. They don’t make any sound we can hear. ⁴But their “voice” goes throughout the world. Their “words” go to the ends of the earth. The sky is like a home for the sun. ⁵The sun comes out like a happy bridegroom from his bedroom. The sun begins its path across the sky like an athlete eager to run his race. ⁶The sun starts at one end of the sky, and it runs all the way to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. {The Lord’s teachings are like that.} ⁷The Lord’s teachings are perfect. They give strength to God’s people. The Lord’s Agreement* can be trusted. It helps foolish people become wise. ⁸The Lord’s laws are right. They make people happy. The Lord’s commands are good. They show people the right way to live. ⁹Worshiping the Lord is like a light that will shine bright forever. The Lord’s judgments are good and fair. They are completely right. ¹⁰The Lord’s teachings are worth more than the best gold. They are sweeter than the best honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. ¹¹The Lord’s teachings warn his servant. Good things come from obeying them. ¹²{Lord,} no person can see all of his own mistakes. So don’t let me do secret sins. ¹³Don’t let me do the sins I want to do. Don’t let those sins rule me. If you help me, then I can be pure and free from my sins. ¹⁴I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock* —You are the One who saves me.

director Or, “performer.” A song of David Or, “A song dedicated to David.” Agreement This probably means the Law of Moses, the commands and agreement God made with the people of Israel. Rock A name for God to show he is a strong place of safety.

Psalm 20

To the director.* A song of David.*

¹May the Lord answer your call for help when you have troubles. May the God of Jacob protect you. ²May God send you help from his Holy Place. May he support you from Zion.* ³May God remember all the gifts you offered. May he accept all your sacrifices.* SELAH* ⁴May God give you what you really want. May he make all your plans successful. ⁵We will be happy when God helps you. Let’s praise God’s name. May the Lord give you everything that you ask for! ⁶Now I know the Lord helps the king he chose! God was in his holy heaven, and he answered his chosen king. God used his great power to save the king. ⁷Some people trust their chariots.* Other people trust their soldiers. But we remember the Lord our God. ⁸Those other people were defeated—they died in battle. But we won! We are the winners! ⁹The Lord saved his chosen king! God’s chosen king called for help. And God answered!

director Or, “performer.” A song of David Or, “A song dedicated to David.” Zion The southeast part of the mountain Jerusalem is built on. Sometimes it means the people of God living in Jerusalem. sacrifice(s) A sacrifice was a gift to God. Usually, it was a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. SELAH This word is for the musicians. It probably means the singers should pause here or the music should be louder here. chariot(s) A small wagon used in war.

Psalm 21

To the director.* A song of David.*

¹Lord, your strength makes the king happy. He is so happy when you save him. ²You gave the king the things he wanted. Lord, the king asked for some things, and you gave him what he asked for. SELAH* ³Lord, you really blessed the king. You put the gold crown on his head. ⁴God, the king asked you for life. And you gave it to him! You gave him a long life that continues forever and ever. ⁵You led the king to victory and gave him great glory. You gave him honor and praise. ⁶God, you really blessed the king forever. When the king sees your face, it makes him very happy. ⁷The king trusts the Lord. God Most-High will not disappoint him. ⁸God, you will show all your enemies that you are strong. Your power will defeat the people who hate you. ⁹Lord, when you are with the king, he is like a hot oven {that burns up everything in it}. His anger burns like a hot fire, and he destroys his enemies. ¹⁰The families of his enemies will be destroyed. They will be gone from the earth. ¹¹Why? Because those people planned bad things against you, Lord. They planned to do bad things, but they didn’t succeed. ¹²Lord, you made those people your slaves. You tied them together with ropes. You put ropes around their necks. You made them bow down like slaves. ¹³Lord, let the songs of your power exalt you! We will sing and play songs about your greatness!

director Or, “performer.” A song of David Or, “A song dedicated to David.” SELAH This word is for the musicians. It probably means the singers should pause here or the music should be louder here.