Psalm 18
Words: Brady and Tate, A New Version of the Psalms of David
1 No change of times shall ever shock
my firm affection, Lord, to thee;
For thou hast always been my rock,
a fortress and defense to me.
2 Thou my deliv'rer art, my:God,
my trust is in thy mighty pow'r:
Thou art my shield from foes abroad,
at home my safeguard and my tow'r.
3 To thee will I address my pray'r,
(to whom all praise we justly owe;)
So shall I, by thy watchful care,
be guarded from my treach'rous foe.
4,5 By floods of wicked men distressed,
with deadly sorrows compassed round;
With dire infernal pangs oppressed,
in death's unwieldy fetters bound.
6 To heav'n I made my mournful pray'r,
to God addressed my humble moan;
Who graciously inclined his ear,
and heard me from his lofty throne.
The Second Part.
7 When God arose to take my part,
the conscious earth did quake for fear;
From their firm posts the hills did start,
nor could his dreadful fury bear.
8 Thick clouds of smoke dispersed abroad,
ensigns of wrath before him came;
Devouring fire around him glowed,
that coals were kindled at its flame.
9 He left the beauteous realms of light,
whilst heav'n bowed down its awful head,
Beneath his feet substantial night
was like a sable carpet spread.
10 The chariot of the King of kings,
which active troops of angels drew,
On a strong tempest's rapid wings,
with most amazing swiftness flew.
11,12 Black wat'ryy mists and clouds conspired
with thickest shades his face to veil;
But at his brightness soon retired,
and fell in show'rs of fire and hail.
13 Thro' heav'n's wide arch thund'ring peal
God s angry voice did loudly roar,
While earth's sad face with heaps of hail,
and flakes of fire, was covered o'er.
14 His sharpened arrows round he threw,
which made his scattered foes retreat;
Like darts his nimble lightenings flew,
and quickly finished their defeat,
15 The deep its secret stores disclosed,
the world's foundations naked lay;
By his avenging wrath exposed;
which fiercely raged that dreadful day.
The Third Part.
16 The Lord did on my side engage
from heav'n, his throne, my cause upheld;
And snatched me from the furious_rage,
of threat'ning waves that proudly swelled.
17 God his resistless pow'r employed,
my strongest foes' attempts to break;
Who else with ease had soon destroyed
the weak defense that I could make.
18 Their subtle rage had near prevailed,
when I distressed and friendless lay;
But still, when other succors failed,
God was my firm support and stay.
19 From dangers that enclosed me round,
he brought me forth and set me free;
For some just cause his goodness found,
that moved him to delight in me.
20 Because in me no guilt remains,
God does his gracious help extend;
My hands are free from bloody stains,
therefore the Lord is still my friend.
21,22 For I his judgments kept in sight,
in his just paths I always trod;
I never did his statutes slight,
nor loosely wandered from my God.
23,24 But still my soul, sincere and pure,
did e'en from darling sins refrain;
His favors, therefore, yet endure,
because my heart and hands are clean.
The Fourth Part.
25,26 Thou suit'st, O Lord, thy righteous ways
to various paths of human kind;
with thee shall wondrous mercy find.
They, who for mercy merit praise,
Thou to the just shalt justice show,
the pure thy purity shah see;
Such as perversely choose to go,
shall meet with due returns from thee.
27,28 That he the humble soul will save,
and crush the haughty's boasted might,
In me the Lord an instance gave,
whose darkness he has turned to light.
29 On his firm succor I relyed,
and did o'er num'rous foes prevail;
Nor feared, whilst he was on my side,
the best defended walls to scale.
30 For God's designs shall still succeed
his word will bear the utmost test:
He's a strong shield to all that need,
and on his sure protection rest.
31 Who then deserves to be adored,
but God on whom my hopes depend?
Or who, except the mighty Lord,
can with resistless pow'r defend?
The Fifth part.
32,33 'Tis God that girds my armor on,
and all my just designs fulfils;
Through him my feet can swiftly run,
and nimbly climb the steepest hills.
34 Lessons of war from him I take,
and manly weapons learn to wield;
Strong bows of steel with ease to break,
forced by my stronger arms to yield,
35 The buckler of his saving health
protects me from assaulting foes;
His hand sustains me still, my wealth
and greatness from his bounty flows.
36 My goings he enlarged abroad,
till then to narrow paths confined;
And, when in slipp'ry ways I trod,
the method of my steps designed.
37 Through him I num'rous hosts defeat,
and flying squadrons captive take;
Nor from my fierce pursuit retreat,
till I a final conquest make.
38 Covered with wounds, in vain they try
their vanquished heads again to rear;
Spite of their boasted strength they lie
beneath my feet, and grovel there.
39 God, when fresh armies take the field,
recruits my strength, my courage warms;
He makes my strong opposers yield,
subdued by my prevailing arms.
40 Through him the necks of prostrate foes
my conqu'ring feet in triumph press;
Aided by him, I root out those
who hate and envy my success.
41 With loud complaints all friends they tried,
but none was able to defend;
At length to God for help they cried,
but God would no assistance lend.
42 Like flying dust which winds pursue,
their broken troops I scattered round,
Their slaughtered bodies forth I threw,
like loathsome dirt that clogs the ground.
The Sixth Part.
43 Our factious tribes, at strife till now,
by God's appointment me obey;
The heathen to my scepter bow,
and foreign nations own my sway.
44 Remotest realms their homage send,
when my successful name they hear;
Strangers for my commands attend,
charmed with respect, or awed by fear.
45 All to my summons tamely yield,
or soon in battle are dismayed;
For stronger holds they quit the field,
and still in strongest holds afraid.
46 Let the eternal Lord be praised,
the rock on whose defense I rest;
O'er highest heav'ns his name be raised,
who me with his salvation blest.
47 'Tis God that still supports my right,
his just revenge my foes pursues;
'Tis he that with resistless might
fierce nations to my yoke subdues.
48 My universal safeguard he!
from whom my lasting honors flow;
He made me great, and set me free
from my remorseless bloody foe.
49 Therefore to celebrate his fame.
my grateful voice to heav'n I'll raise;
And nations, strangers to his name,
shall thus be taught to sing his praise.
50 "God to his king deliv'rance sends,
shows his anointed signal grace;
"His mercy evermore extends
to David and his promised race."
