1 I love you, O Lord my strength. ♦︎
The Lord is my crag, my fortress and my deliverer,
2 My God, my rock in whom I take refuge, ♦︎
my shield, the horn of my salvation and my stronghold.
3 I cried to the Lord in my anguish ♦︎
and I was saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entwined me ♦︎
and the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the Pit fastened about me ♦︎
and the snares of death entangled me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord ♦︎
and cried out to my God for help.
7 He heard my voice in his temple ♦︎
and my cry came to his ears.
8 The earth trembled and quaked; ♦︎
the foundations of the mountains shook;
they reeled because he was angry.
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils
and a consuming fire went out of his mouth; ♦︎
burning coals blazed forth from him.
10 He parted the heavens and came down ♦︎
and thick darkness was under his feet.
11 He rode upon the cherubim and flew; ♦︎
he came flying on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his covering round about him, ♦︎
dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
13 From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds ♦︎
burst hailstones and coals of fire.
14 The Lord also thundered out of heaven; ♦︎
the Most High uttered his voice
with hailstones and coals of fire.
15 He sent out his arrows and scattered them; ♦︎
he hurled down lightnings and put them to flight.
16 The springs of the ocean were seen,
and the foundations of the world uncovered ♦︎
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your displeasure.
17 He reached down from on high and took me; ♦︎
he drew me out of the mighty waters.
18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, ♦︎
from foes that were too mighty for me.
19 They came upon me in the day of my trouble; ♦︎
but the Lord was my upholder.
20 He brought me out into a place of liberty; ♦︎
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
21 The Lord rewarded me after my righteous dealing; ♦︎
according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me,
22 Because I had kept the ways of the Lord ♦︎
and had not gone wickedly away from my God,
23 For I had an eye to all his laws, ♦︎
and did not cast out his commandments from me.
24 I was also wholehearted before him ♦︎
and kept myself from iniquity;
25 Therefore the Lord rewarded me
after my righteous dealing, ♦︎
and according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.