Psalm 18
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 Prayer for the Conservation of Natural Resources
Almighty God, in giving us
dominion over things on earth,
you made us fellow workers in your creation:
Give us wisdom and reverence
so to use the resources of nature,
that no one may suffer from our abuse of them,
and that generations yet to come
may continue to praise you for your bounty;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
