Diligam te Dom. Ps.18.T.S.

David giveth thanks, entering into his kingdom extolling the marvelous graces of God in his preservation: wherein is the image of Christ’s Kingdom, which shall conquer through Christ, by the unspeakable love of God, though all the world resist.

1 O God my strength and fortitude,
of force I must love thee:
Thou art my castle and defense
in my necessity.

2 My God, my rock, in whom I trust,
the worker of my wealth:
My refuge, buckler and my shield
the horn of all my health.

3 When I sing laud unto the Lord,
most worthy to be served:
Then from my foes I am right sure
that I shall be preserved,

4 The pangs of death did ‘compass me,
and bound me everywhere:
The flowing waves of wickedness
did put me in great fear.

5 The sly and subtle snares of hell
were round about me set:
And for my death there was prepared
a deadly trapping net.

6 I thus beset with pain and grief,
did pray to God for grace.
And he forthwith did hear my ‘plaint
out of his holy place.

7 Such is his power that in his wrath,
he made the earth to quake:
Yea, the foundation of the mount
of Bashan for to shake.

8 And from his nostrils came a smoke,
when kindled was his ire.
And from his mouth came kindle coals,
of hot consuming fire.

9 The Lord descended from above,
and bowed the heavens high:
And underneath his feet he cast
the darkness of the sky.

10 On Cherubs and on Cherubims
full royally he rode:
And on the wings of all the winds
came flying all abroad.

11 And like a den most dark he made
his hid and secret place:
With waters black, and airy clouds
environed he was.

12 But when the presence of his face
in brightness shall appear:
The clouds consume, and in their stead,
come hail and coals of fire.

13 The fiery darts and thunder-bolts,
disperse them here and there:
And with his often lightenings
he puts them in great fear.

14 Lord at thy wrath and threatenings,
and at they chiding cheer,
The springs and the fountains
of all the world appear.

15 And from above the Lord sent down
to fetch me from below:
And plucked me out of waters great,
that would me overflow.

16 And me delivered from my foes,
That would have me thrall:
Yea, from such foes as were too strong
for me to deal withal.

17 They dit prevent me to oppress
in time of my great grief:
But yet the Lord was my defense,
my succor and relief.

18 He brought me forth in open place,
whereas I might be free:
And kept me safe because he had
a favor unto me.

19 And as I was an innocent,
so did he me regard:
And to the cleanness of my hands
he gave me my reward.

20 For that I walked in his ways,
and in his paths have trod:
And have not wavered wickedly
against the Lord my God.

21 But evermore I have respect
to his law and decree:
His statutes and commandments,
I cast not out from me.

22 But pure and clean and uncorrupt,
appeared before his face:
And did refrain from wickedness,
and sin in any case.

23 The Lord therefore will me reward,
as I have done aright:
And to cleanness of my hands,
appearing in his sight.

24 For Lord with him that holy is
wilt thou be holy to:
And with the good and virtuous man,
right virtuously wilt do.

25 And to the loving and elect
thy love thou wilt reserve:
And thou wilt use the wicked men,
as wicked men deserve.

26 For thou doest save the simple folk,
in trouble when they lie:
And doest bring down the countenance
of them that look full high.

27 The Lord will light my candle so
that it shall shine full bright:
The Lord my God will make also
my darkness to be light.

28 For by thy help an host of men
discomfit Lord I shall:
By thee I scale and overleap
the strength of any wall.

29 Unspotted are the ways of God,
his word is purely tried.
He is a sure defense to such
As in his faith abide.

30 For who is God except the Lord?
for other there is none:
Or else who is omnipotent
saving our God alone?

31 The Lord that girdeth me with strength,
is he that I do mean:
That all the ways wherein I walk
doth evermore keep clean.

32 That made my feet like to the Harts,
in swiftness of my peace:
And for my surety brought me forth
into an open place.

33 He did in order put my hands,
to battle and to fight:
To break in sunder bars of brass
he gave my arm the might.

34 Thou teachest me thy saving health,
thy right hand is my tower:
Thy love and familiarity
doth still increase my power.

35 And under me thou makest plain
the way where I should walk,
So that my feet shall never slip,
nor stumble at a balk.

36 And fiercely I pursue and take
my foes that me annoyed:
And from the field do not return,
‘til they be all destroyed.

37 So I suppress and wound my foes,
that they can rise no more:
For at my feet they fall down flat,
I strike them all so sore:

38 For thou doest gird me with thy strength
to war in such a wise:
That they be all scattered abroad
that up against me rise.

39 Lord thou hast put into my hands,
my mortal enemies’ yoke:
And all my foes thou doest divide,
in sunder with thy stroke:

40 They called for help, but none gave ear,
nor helped them with relief:
Yea, to the Lord they called for help,
yet heard he not their grief.

41 And still like dust before the wind,
I drive them under feet:
And sweep them out like filthy clay,
that sticketh in the street.

42 Thou keep’st me from seditious folk
that still in strife be led:
And thou doest of the heathen folk,
appoint me to be head,

43 A people strange to me unknown,
And yet they shall me serve:
And at the first obey my word,
whereas mine own will swerve.

44 I shall be irksome to mine own,
they will not see my light:
But wander wide out of the way,
and hide them out of sight.

45 But blessed be the living Lord,
most worthy of all praise:
That is my rock and saving health,
praised be he always.

46 For God it is that gave me power
revenged for to be:
And with his holy word subdued
the people unto me.

47 And from my foe delivered me,
and set me higher than those:
That cruel and ungodly were,
and up against me rose:

48 And for this cause, O Lord my God,
to thee give thanks I shall:
And sing out praises to thy name,
among the Gentiles all.

49 Thou gavest great prosperity,
unto the King I say:
To David thine anointed King,
and to his seed for aye.