Psalm 18, Part 1
1I love you, O Lord my strength, *
O Lord my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.
2My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, *
my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge;
you are worthy of praise.
3I will call upon the Lord, *
and so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4The breakers of death rolled over me, *
and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.
5The cords of hell entangled me, *
and the snares of death were set for me.
6I called upon the Lord in my distress *
and cried out to my God for help.
7He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; *
my cry of anguish came to his ears.
8The earth reeled and rocked; *
the roots of the mountains shook;
they reeled because of his anger.
9Smoke rose from his nostrils
and a consuming fire out of his mouth; *
hot burning coals blazed forth from him.
10He parted the heavens and came down *
with a storm cloud under his feet.
11He mounted on cherubim and flew; *
he swooped on the wings of the wind.
12He wrapped darkness about him; *
he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
13From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds, *
burst hailstones and coals of fire.
14The Lord thundered out of heaven; *
the Most High uttered his voice.
15He loosed his arrows and scattered them; *
he hurled thunderbolts and routed them.
16The beds of the seas were uncovered,
and the foundations of the world laid bare, *
at your battle cry, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
17He reached down from on high and grasped me; *
he drew me out of great waters.
18He delivered me from my strong enemies
and from those who hated me; *
for they were too mighty for me.
19They confronted me in the day of my disaster; *
but the Lord was my support.
20He brought me out into an open place; *
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
