
Day III : Evening Prayer

18 - Diligam te, Domine

1   I will love you, O Lord my strength; *
    the Lord is my rock, my stronghold, and my deliverer,

2   My Savior, my God, and my might in whom I will trust, *
    my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge.

3   I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; *
    so shall I be safe from my enemies.

4   The waves of death encompassed me; *
    the floods that would swallow me up made me afraid.

5   The cords of the grave surrounded me; *
    the snares of death overtook me.

6   In my trouble I called upon the Lord *
    and cried unto my God for help.

7   From his holy temple he heard my voice. *
    My complaint came before him; it entered into his ears.

8   The earth trembled and quaked; *
    the very foundations of the hills shook and were removed, because he was angry.

9   There went out smoke from his nostrils and a consuming fire out of his mouth; *
    coals of fire issued from his presence. 

10  He parted the heavens also and came down, *
    and it was dark under his feet.

11  He rode upon the cherubim and flew; *
    he came flying upon the wings of the wind.

12  He made darkness his secret place; *
    dark waters and thick clouds were his covering round about him. 

13  At the brightness of his presence his clouds broke forth: *
    hailstones and coals of fire.

14  The Lord also thundered out of heaven, and the Most High gave forth his voice: *
    hailstones and coals of fire.

15  He sent out his arrows and scattered them; *
    he cast forth lightning and destroyed them.

16  The springs of water were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered, *
    at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blasting of the breath of your displeasure.

17  He reached down from on high to grasp me, *
    and he took me out of many waters.

18  He delivered me from my strongest enemy, and from those who hated me, *
    for they were too mighty for me.

19  They confronted me in the day of my trouble, *
    but the Lord upheld me.

20  He brought me forth into a place of liberty; *
    he delivered me, because I had found favor in his eyes.

21  The Lord rewarded me according to my righteous dealing; *
    according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me,

22  Because I had kept the ways of the Lord *
    and had not forsaken my God, as the wicked do.

23  For I had an eye unto all his laws *
    and did not cast out his commandments from me.

24  I was also uncorrupt before him *
    and kept myself from my own wickedness.

25  Therefore the Lord rewarded me according to my righteous  dealing, *
    and according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

26  With the faithful you show yourself faithful, *
    and with the upright you show yourself upright.

27  With the pure you show yourself pure, *
    but with the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

28  For you shall save the people who are in adversity, *
    but shall bring down the high looks of the proud.

29  You also shall light my lamp; *
    the Lord my God shall turn my darkness into light.

30  For with you I shall crush a host of men, *
    and with the help of my God I can leap over a wall.

31  The way of God is an undefiled way; the word of the Lord also is tried in the fire; *
    he is the defender of all those who put their trust in him.

32  For who is God, but the Lord, *
    or who is a rock, except our God?

33  It is God who girds me with strength for war *
    and makes my way perfect.

34  He makes my feet like the feet of a deer *
    and sets me up on high.

35  He teaches my hands to fight, *
    and my arms shall bend even a bow of bronze.

36  You have given me the shield of your salvation; *
    your right hand also shall hold me up, and your loving correction shall make me great.

37  You have made a broad path for my feet, *
    and my footsteps shall not slip.

38  I will follow my enemies and overtake them; *
    I will not turn again until I have destroyed them.

39  I will smite them, and they shall not be able to stand. *
    They shall fall under my feet.

40  You have girded me with strength for the battle; *
    you shall throw down my enemies under me.

41  You have made my enemies turn their backs upon me, *
    and I shall destroy those who hate me.

42  They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them; *
    even unto the Lord shall they cry, but he shall not hear them.

43  I will beat them as small as dust before the wind; *
    I will tread them down as mire in the streets.

44  You shall deliver me from the strivings of the peoples, *
    and you shall make me the head of the nations.

45  A people whom I have not known *
    shall be in subjection under me.

46  As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me; *
    and foreigners shall cringe before me.

47  Foreigners shall lose heart, *
    and, being afraid, shall come out of their strongholds.

48  The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, *
    and praised be the God of my salvation,

49  Even the God who sees that I am avenged *
    and subdues the peoples under me.

50  It is he who delivers me from my cruel enemies, and lifts me up above my adversaries; *
    you shall rid me of the wicked.

51  For this cause will I give thanks unto you, O Lord, among the nations, *
    and sing praises unto your Name.

52  Great prosperity he gives unto his King, *
    and shows loving-kindness to David his Anointed, and unto his seed for evermore.
