I love thee, O Lord, my strength.
\nThe Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,
\nmy God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
\nmy shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
\nI call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
\nand I am saved from my enemies.<\/p>\n
The cords of death encompassed me,
\nthe torrents of perdition assailed me;
\nthe cords of Sheol entangled me,
\nthe snares of death confronted me.<\/p>\n
In my distress I called upon the Lord;
\nto my God I cried for help.
\nFrom his temple he heard my voice,
\nand my cry to him reached his ears
\nThen the earth reeled and rocked;
\nthe foundations also of the mountains trembled
\nand quaked, because he was angry.
\nSmoke went up from his nostrils,
\nand devouring fire from his mouth;
\nglowing coals flamed forth from him.
\nHe bowed the heavens, and came down;
\nthick darkness was under his feet.
\nHe rode on a cherub, and flew;
\nhe came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
\nHe made darkness his covering around him,
\nhis canopy thick clouds dark with water.
\nOut of the brightness before him
\nthere broke through his clouds
\nhailstones and coals of fire.
\nThe Lord also thundered in the heavens,
\nand the Most High uttered his voice,
\nhailstones and coals of fire.
\nAnd he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;
\nhe flashed forth lightnings, and routed them.
\nThen the channels of the sea were seen,
\nand the foundations of the world were laid bare,
\nat thy rebuke, O Lord,
\nat the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.<\/p>\n
He reached from on high, he took me,
\nhe drew me out of many waters.
\nHe delivered me from my strong enemy,
\nand from those who hated me;
\nfor they were too mighty for me.
\nThey came upon me in the day of my calamity;
\nbut the Lord was my stay.
\nHe brought me forth into a broad place;
\nhe delivered me, because he delighted in me.<\/p>\n
The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
\naccording to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.<\/p>\n
–Psalm 18:1-20<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon…<\/span><\/p>\n