Psalm 18 Wednesday & Thursday Readings 1
I love you, Yahweh, my strength. * Yahweh is my rock and my fortress; * my God is my haven,
my mountain where I take refuge, * my shield and my horn of salvation, my stronghold.
When mocked, I called on Yahweh, * and was saved from my Foe.
The waves of Death surrounded me; * the torrents of Belial overwhelmed me.
The cords of Sheol surrounded me; * the traps of Death confronted me.
In my anguish I called on Yahweh, * and to my God I cried for help.
My voice was heard in his palace; * my cry reached his ears.
The underworld reeled and rocked; * the foundations of the mountains shuddered; * they reeled when his anger blazed.
Smoke rose from his nostrils, * and consuming fire from his mouth; * coals flamed forth from him.
He spread open the heavens and came down, * a storm cloud under his feet.
He mounted the Cherub and flew, * and soared on wings outstretched.
Dark grew his canopy around him, * with a heavy rain cloud his pavilion.
From his light, clouds ran before him, * with hailstones and flashes of fire.
Yahweh thundered from the heavens, * and the Most High gave forth his voice.
He forged his arrows and scattered them; * he multiplied his bolts and dispersed them.
The fountainheads of the sea were exposed, * and the world's foundations laid bare,
at your roar, Yahweh, * at the blast from your nostrils.
He reached down from high and snatched me; * he drew me from the waters deep.
He rescued me from my powerful Foe, * from my Enemy though stronger than I.
He went before me on the day of my death, * and Yahwheh became my staff.
He brought me out of the Bad Expanse, * and freed me because he loved me.
Yahweh rewarded me because I was just; * because my hands were clean he repaid me.
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, * and have not been guilty, my God.
For all his rulings are before me; * his laws I never put aside.
I have always been candid with him, * and taken care not to offend him.
So Yahweh repaid me because I was just; * because my hands were clean in his eyes.
With the faithful you are faithful; * with the candid you are candid.
With the sincere you are sincere, * but with the cunning you are crafty.
Yes, you are the Strong One, * who saves the poor, * but you humble eyes that are proud.
You shine for me; * my lamp is Yahweh; * my God illumines my darkness.
Through you I run with strength, * and with my God I can scale any wall.