1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid the seruant of the Lord, which spake unto the Lord the wordes of this song (in the day that the Lord delivered him for the hande of all this enemies, and form the and of saul) and sayd, I will loue thee dearely, O Lord my strength. 2 The Lord is my rocke, and my fortresse, and he that deliuereth me, my God and my strength: in him will I trust, my shield, the horne also of my saluation, and my refuge. 3 I will call vpon the Lord, which is worthie to be praysed: so shall I be safe from mine enemies. 4 The sorowes of death compassed me, and the floods of wickednes made me afraide. 5 The sorowes of the graue haue compassed me about: the snares of death ouertooke me. 6 But in my trouble did I call vpon the Lord, and cryed vnto my God: he heard my voyce out of his Temple, and my crye did come before him, euen into his eares. 7 Then the earth trembled, and quaked: the foundations also of the mountaines mooued and shooke, because he was angrie. 8 Smoke went out at his nostrels, and a consuming fire out of his mouth: coales were kindled thereat. 9 He bowed the heauens also and came downe, and darkenes was vnder his feete. 10 And he rode vpon Cherub and did flie, and he came flying vpon the wings of the winde. 11 He made darkenes his secrete place, and his pauilion round about him, euen darkenesse of waters, and cloudes of the ayre. 12 At the brightnes of his presence his clouds passed, haylestones and coles of fire. 13 The Lord also thundred in the heauen, and the Highest gaue his voyce, haylestones and coales of fire. 14 Then hee sent out his arrowes and scattred them, and he increased lightnings and destroyed them. 15 And the chanels of waters were seene, and the foundations of the worlde were discouered at thy rebuking, O Lord, at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels. 16 He hath sent downe from aboue and taken mee: hee hath drawen mee out of many waters. 17 He hath deliuered mee from my strong enemie, and from them which hate me: for they were too strong for me. 18 They preuented me in the day of my calamitie: but the Lord was my stay. 19 Hee brought mee foorth also into a large place: hee deliuered mee because hee fauoured me. 20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousnes: according to the purenes of mine hands he recompensed me: 21 Because I kept the wayes of the Lord, and did not wickedly against my God. 22 For all his Lawes were before mee, and I did not cast away his commandements from mee. 23 I was vpright also with him, and haue kept me from my wickednes. 24 Therefore the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousnesse, and according to the purenes of mine hands in his sight. 25 With the godly thou wilt shewe thy selfe godly: with the vpright man thou wilt shew thy selfe vpright. 26 With the pure thou wilt shewe thy selfe pure, and with the froward thou wilt shewe thy selfe froward. 27 Thus thou wilt saue the poore people, and wilt cast downe the proude lookes. 28 Surely thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God wil lighten my darkenes. 29 For by thee I haue broken through an hoste, and by my God I haue leaped ouer a wall. 30 The way of God is vncorrupt: the worde of the Lord is tried in the fire: he is a shield to all that trust in him. 31 For who is God besides the Lord? and who is mightie saue our God? 32 God girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way vpright. 33 He maketh my feete like hindes feete, and setteth me vpon mine high places. 34 He teacheth mine hands to fight: so that a bowe of brasse is broken with mine armes. 35 Thou hast also giuen me the shield of thy saluation, and thy right hand hath stayed me, and thy louing kindenes hath caused me to increase. 36 Thou hast enlarged my steps vnder mee, and mine heeles haue not slid. 37 I haue pursued mine enemies, and taken them, and haue not turned againe till I had consumed them. 38 I haue wounded them, that they were not able to rise: they are fallen vnder my feete. 39 For thou hast girded me with strength to battell: them, that rose against me, thou hast subdued vnder me. 40 And thou hast giuen me the neckes of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. 41 They cryed but there was none to saue them, euen vnto the Lord, but hee answered them not. 42 Then I did beate them small as the dust before the winde: I did treade them flat as the clay in the streetes. 43 Thou hast deliuered me from the contentions of the people: thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people, whom I haue not knowen, shall serue me. 44 As soone as they heare, they shall obey me: the strangers shall be in subiection to me. 45 Strangers shall shrinke away, and feare in their priuie chambers. 46 Let the Lord liue, and blessed be my strength, and the God of my saluation be exalted. 47 It is God that giueth me power to auenge me, and subdueth the people vnder me. 48 O my deliuerer from mine enemies, euen thou hast set mee vp from them, that rose against me: thou hast deliuered mee from the cruell man. 49 Therefore I will prayse thee, O Lord, among the nations, and wil sing vnto thy Name. 50 Great deliuerances giueth hee vnto his King, and sheweth mercie to his anoynted, euen to Dauid, and to his seede for euer.
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,
1 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.
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.
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
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.
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.
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.
24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
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.
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.
29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
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.
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.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
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.
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.
45 The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
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.
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.
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.