| Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version | |
| Book of Psalms |
| Chapter 18 - Read Chapter |
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- 18:1 - [In Context]
- He said, "Lord my strength, I love you!"
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- 18:2 - [In Context]
- The Lord is my Rock, F61 my Fortress, F62 my Place of Safety." My God is my Rock. I run to him for protection. God is my shield. His power saves me. F63 The Lord is my hiding place high in the hills.
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- 18:3 - [In Context]
- They made fun of me. But I called to the Lord for help, and I was saved from my enemies!
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- 18:4 - [In Context]
- {My enemies were trying to kill me!} The ropes of death were all around me. I was caught in a flood carrying me to that place of death. F64
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- 18:5 - [In Context]
- Ropes of the grave were all around me. Traps of death lay before me.
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- 18:6 - [In Context]
- Trapped, I called to the Lord for help. Yes, I called to my God. God was in his temple. He heard my voice. He heard my cry for help.
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- 18:7 - [In Context]
- The earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven shook. Why? Because the Lord was angry!
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- 18:8 - [In Context]
- Smoke came from God's nose. F65 Burning flames came from God's mouth, Burning sparks flew from him.
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- 18:9 - [In Context]
- The Lord tore open the sky, and he came down! He stood on a thick, dark cloud.
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- 18:10 - [In Context]
- The Lord was flying {across the sky}, riding on the flying Cherub angels. He was soaring high on the wind.
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- 18:11 - [In Context]
- The Lord was hidden in the dark clouds that surrounded him like a tent. He was hidden in the thick thunder clouds.
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- 18:12 - [In Context]
- Then, God's shining brightness broke through the clouds. There was hail and flashes of lightning.
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- 18:13 - [In Context]
- The Lord thundered from the sky! God Most-High let his voice be heard. There was hail and flashes of lightning.
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- 18:14 - [In Context]
- The Lord shot his arrows F66 and scattered the enemy. The Lord sent many bolts of lightning and the people scattered in confusion.
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- 18:15 - [In Context]
- Lord, you shouted your command; and a powerful wind began to blow. F67 {The water was pushed back,} and we could see the bottom of the sea. We could see the earth's foundations.
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- 18:16 - [In Context]
- The Lord reached down from above and saved me. The Lord caught me and pulled me out of deep water (trouble).
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- 18:17 - [In Context]
- My enemies were stronger than me. Those people hated me. My enemies were too strong for me, so God saved me.
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- 18:18 - [In Context]
- I was in trouble, and my enemies attacked me. But the Lord was there to support me!
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- 18:19 - [In Context]
- The Lord loves me, so he rescued me. He took me to a safe place.
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- 18:20 - [In Context]
- I am innocent, so the Lord will give me my reward. I did nothing wrong, so he will do good things for me.
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- 18:21 - [In Context]
- Why? Because I obeyed the Lord! I did not sin against my God.
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- 18:22 - [In Context]
- I always remember the Lord's decisions. I obey his laws!
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- 18:23 - [In Context]
- I was pure and honest with him. I kept myself from doing bad things.
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- 18:24 - [In Context]
- So the Lord will give me my reward! Why? Because I am innocent! The way God sees it, I did nothing wrong, so he will do good things for me.
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- 18:25 - [In Context]
- Lord, if a person really loves you, then you will show your true love to him. If a person is true to you, then you will be true to him.
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- 18:26 - [In Context]
- Lord, you are good and pure to people that are good and pure. But, you can outsmart the meanest and sneakiest people.
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- 18:27 - [In Context]
- Lord, you help humble people. But you humiliate proud people.
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- 18:28 - [In Context]
- Lord, you light my lamp. My God lights up the darkness around me!
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- 18:29 - [In Context]
- With your help, Lord, I can run with the soldiers. With God's help, I can climb over enemy walls.
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- 18:30 - [In Context]
- God's power is complete. F68 The Lord's word has been tested. He protects people who trust him.
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- 18:31 - [In Context]
- There is no God except the Lord. There is no Rock, F69 except our God.
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- 18:32 - [In Context]
- God gives me strength. He helps me live a pure life.
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- 18:33 - [In Context]
- God helps me run fast like a deer. He keeps me steady in high places.
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- 18:34 - [In Context]
- God trains me for war, so my arms can bend a powerful bow. F70
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- 18:35 - [In Context]
- God, you protected me and helped me win. You supported me with your right arm. You helped me defeat my enemy.
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- 18:36 - [In Context]
- Make my legs and ankles strong, so I can walk fast without stumbling.
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- 18:37 - [In Context]
- Then I can chase my enemies and catch them. I won't come back until they are destroyed!
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- 18:38 - [In Context]
- I will defeat my enemies. They won't get up again. All my enemies will be under my feet.
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- 18:39 - [In Context]
- God, you made me strong in battle. You made my enemies fall before me.
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- 18:40 - [In Context]
- You gave me a chance to strike at my enemy's neck, and I cut my opponent down!
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- 18:41 - [In Context]
- My enemies called for help, but there was no one to save them. They even called to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
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- 18:42 - [In Context]
- I beat my enemies to pieces. They were like dust blowing in the wind. I crushed them into small pieces.
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- 18:43 - [In Context]
- Save me from the people that fight against me. Make me the leader of those nations. People I don't even know will serve me.
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- 18:44 - [In Context]
- Those people will hear about me and quickly obey me. Those foreigners will be afraid of me.
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- 18:45 - [In Context]
- Those foreigners will wilt with fear. They will come from their hiding places shaking with fear.
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- 18:46 - [In Context]
- The Lord is alive! I praise my Rock, F71 God saves me. He is great!
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- 18:47 - [In Context]
- God punished my enemies for me. He put people under my control.
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- 18:48 - [In Context]
- Lord, you rescued me from my enemies. You helped me defeat the people who stood against me. You saved me from cruel men.
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- 18:49 - [In Context]
- Lord, that is why I praise you among the nations. That is why I sing songs about your name.
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- 18:50 - [In Context]
- The Lord helps his king win many battles! He shows his true love for his chosen king. He will be loyal to David and his descendants forever!
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FOOTNOTES: F61: throne The chair a king or queen sits on.
F62: rejects Or, "hates" or "refuses to accept."
F63: hot, burning wind This is like the hot fire a worker uses to melt silver. The silver separates from all the worthless things in it. These things are thrown away and only the pure silver is left.
F64: director Or, "performer."
F65: by the Sheminith This might be a special instrument, a special way of tuning an instrument, or one of the groups that played harps in the temple orchestra. See 1 Chron.15:21.
F66: A song of David Or, "A song dedicated to David."
F67: all the people on earth Literally, "the sons of man."
F68: flatter To say good things about people when you don't really mean it.
F69: Those bad … very cheap Literally, "Bad people strut around like expensive cheap things belonging to sons of man."
F70: director Or, "performer."
F71: A song of David Or, "A song dedicated to David."
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