« | Psalm 18 | » |
1 (For the music leader. A psalm by David, the LORD's servant. David sang this to the LORD after the LORD had rescued him from his enemies, but especially from Saul.) I love you, LORD God, and you make me strong.
2 You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter.
3 I praise you, LORD! I prayed, and you rescued me from my enemies.
4 Death had wrapped its ropes around me, and I was almost swallowed by its flooding waters.
5 Ropes from the world of the dead had coiled around me, and death had set a trap in my path.
6 I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, but from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer.
7 The earth shook and shivered, and the mountains trembled down to their roots. You were angry
8 and breathed out smoke. Scorching heat and fiery flames spewed from your mouth.
9 You opened the heavens like curtains, and you came down with storm clouds under your feet.
10 You rode on the backs of flying creatures and swooped down with the wind as wings.
11 Darkness was your robe; thunderclouds filled the sky, hiding you from sight.
12 Hailstones and fiery coals lit up the sky in front of you.
13 LORD Most High, your voice thundered from the heavens, as hailstones and fiery coals poured down like rain.
14 You scattered your enemies with arrows of lightning.
15 You roared at the sea, and its deepest channels could be seen. You snorted, and the earth shook to its foundations.
16 You reached down from heaven, and you lifted me from deep in the ocean.
17 You rescued me from enemies, who were hateful and too powerful for me.
18 On the day disaster struck, they came and attacked, but you defended me.
19 When I was fenced in, you freed and rescued me because you love me.
20 You are good to me, LORD, because I do right, and you reward me because I am innocent.
21 I do what you want and never turn to do evil.
22 I keep your laws in mind and never look away from your teachings.
23 I obey you completely and guard against sin.
24 You have been good to me because I do right; you have rewarded me for being innocent by your standards.
25 You are always loyal to your loyal people, and you are faithful to the faithful.
26 With all who are sincere, you are sincere, but you treat the unfaithful as their deeds deserve.
27 You rescue the humble, but you put down all who are proud.
28 You, the LORD God, keep my lamp burning and turn darkness to light.
29 You help me defeat armies and capture cities.
30 Your way is perfect, LORD, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help.
31 You alone are God! Only you are a mighty rock.
32 You give me strength and guide me right.
33 You make my feet run as fast as those of a deer, and you help me stand on the mountains.
34 You teach my hands to fight and my arms to use a bow of bronze.
35 You alone are my shield. Your right hand supports me, and by coming to help me, you have made me famous.
36 You clear the way for me, and now I won't stumble.
37 I kept chasing my enemies, until I caught them and destroyed them.
38 I stuck my sword through my enemies, and they were crushed under my feet.
39 You helped me win victories, and you forced my attackers to fall victim to me.
40 You made my enemies run, and I killed them.
41 They cried out for help, but no one saved them; they called out to you, but there was no answer.
42 I ground them to dust blown by the wind, and I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43 You rescued me from stubborn people, and you made me the leader of foreign nations, who are now my slaves.
44 They obey and come crawling.
45 They have lost all courage, and from their fortresses, they come trembling.
46 You are the living LORD! I will praise you. You are a mighty rock. I will honor you for keeping me safe.
47 You took revenge for me, and you put nations in my power.
48 You protected me from violent enemies and made me much greater than all of them.
49 I will praise you, LORD, and I will honor you among the nations.
50 You give glorious victories to your chosen king. Your faithful love for David and for his descendants will never end.
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.