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1Thee will I love, O Lord, my strength.
2My
fortress is the Lord,
My
rock, and he that doth to me
deliverance afford:
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My
God, my strength, whom I will trust,
a buckler unto me,
The
horn of my salvation,
and my high tow'r, is he.
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3Upon the Lord, who worthy is
of praises, will I cry;
And
then shall I preserved be
safe from mine enemy.
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4Floods of ill men affrighted me,
death's pangs about me went;
5Hell's sorrows me environed;
death's snares did me prevent.
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6In my distress I call'd on God,
cry to my God did I;
He
from his temple heard my voice,
to his ears came my cry.
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7Th' earth, as affrighted, then did shake,
trembling upon it seiz'd:
The
hills' foundations moved were,
because he was displeas'd.
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8Up from his nostrils came a smoke,
and from his mouth there came
Devouring
fire, and coals by it
were turned into flame.
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9He also bowed down the heav'ns,
and thence he did descend;
And
thickest clouds of darkness did
under his feet attend.
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10And he upon a cherub rode,
and thereon he did fly;
Yea,
on the swift wings of the wind
his flight was from on high.
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11He darkness made his secret place:
about him, for his tent,
Dark
waters were, and thickest clouds
of th' airy firmament.
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12And at the brightness of that light,
which was before his eye,
His
thick clouds pass'd away, hailstones
and coals of fire did fly.
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13The Lord God also in the heav'ns
did thunder in his ire;
And
there the Highest gave his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
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14Yea, he his arrows sent abroad,
and them he scattered;
His
lightnings also he shot out,
and them discomfited.
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15The waters' channels then were seen,
the world's foundations vast
At
thy rebuke discover'd were,
and at thy nostrils' blast.
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16And from above the Lord sent down,
and took me from below;
From
many waters he me drew,
which would me overflow.
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17He me reliev'd from my strong foes,
and such as did me hate;
Because
he saw that they for me
too strong were, and too great.
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18They me prevented in the day
of my calamity;
But
even then the Lord himself
a stay was unto me.
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19He to a place where liberty
and room was hath me brought;
Because
he took delight in me,
he my deliv'rance wrought.
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20According to my righteousness
he did me recompense,
He
me repaid according to
my hands' pure innocence.
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21For I God's ways kept, from my God
did not turn wickedly.
22His judgments were before me, I
his laws put not from me.
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23Sincere before him was my heart;
with him upright was I;
And
watchfully I kept myself
from mine iniquity.
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24After my righteousness the Lord
hath recompensed me,
After
the cleanness of my hands
appearing in his eye.
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25Thou gracious to the gracious art,
to upright men upright:
26Pure to the pure, froward thou kyth'st
unto the froward wight.
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27For thou wilt the afflicted save
in grief that low do lie:
But
wilt bring down the countenance
of them whose looks are high.
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28The Lord will light my candle so,
that it shall shine full bright:
The
Lord my God will also make
my darkness to be light.
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29By thee through troops of men I break,
and them discomfit all;
And,
by my God assisting me,
I overleap a wall.
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30As for God, perfect is his way:
the Lord his word is try'd;
He
is a buckler to all those
who do in him confide.
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31Who but the Lord is God? but he
who is a rock and stay?
32'Tis God that girdeth me with strength,
and perfect makes my way.
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33He made my feet swift as the hinds,
set me on my high places.
34Mine hands to war he taught, mine arms
brake bows of steel in pieces.
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35The shield of thy salvation
thou didst on me bestow:
Thy
right hand held me up, and great
thy kindness made me grow.
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36And in my way my steps thou hast
enlarged under me,
That
I go safely, and my feet
are kept from sliding free.
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37Mine en'mies I pursued have,
and did them overtake;
Nor
did I turn again till I
an end of them did make.
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38I wounded them, they could not rise;
they at my feet did fall.
39Thou girdedst me with strength for war;
my foes thou brought'st down all:
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40And thou hast giv'n to me the necks
of all mine enemies;
That
I might them destroy and slay,
who did against me rise.
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41They cried out, but there was none
that would or could them save;
Yea,
they did cry unto the Lord,
but he no answer gave.
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42Then did I beat them small as dust
before the wind that flies;
And
I did cast them out like dirt
upon the street that lies.
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43Thou mad'st me free from people's strife,
and heathen's head to be:
A
people whom I have not known
shall service do to me.
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44At hearing they shall me obey,
to me they shall submit.
45Strangers for fear shall fade away,
who in close places sit.
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46God lives, bless'd be my Rock; the God
of my health praised be.
47God doth avenge me, and subdues
the people under me.
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48He saves me from mine enemies;
yea, thou hast lifted me
Above
my foes; and from the man
of vi'lence set me free.
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49Therefore to thee will I give thanks
the heathen folk among;
And
to thy name, O Lord, I will
sing praises in a song.
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50He great deliv'rance gives his king:
he mercy doth extend
To
David, his anointed one,
and his seed without end.
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