18:1 For the music director; by the Lord’s servant David, who sang ²  to the Lord the words of this song when ³  the Lord rescued him from the power ⁴  of all his enemies, including Saul. ⁵ 

He said: ⁶ 

“I love ⁷  you, Lord, my source of strength! ⁸ 

18:2 The Lord is my high ridge, ⁹  my stronghold, ¹⁰  my deliverer.

My God is my rocky summit where ¹¹  I take shelter, ¹² 

my shield, the horn that saves me, ¹³  and my refuge. ¹⁴ 

18:3 I called ¹⁵  to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, ¹⁶ 

and I was delivered from my enemies.

18:4 The waves ¹⁷  of death engulfed me,

the currents ¹⁸  of chaos ¹⁹  overwhelmed me. ²⁰ 

18:5 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, ²¹ 

the snares of death trapped me. ²² 

18:6 In my distress I called to the Lord;

I cried out to my God. ²³ 

From his heavenly temple ²⁴  he heard my voice;

he listened to my cry for help. ²⁵