Psalms 18:7-15

7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.

8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.^[a]

14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.

15 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

Psalms 18:7-15 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 18:7-15 In-Context

5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.

8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them.

15 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 97:4; Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 64:3
• 2. S Judges 5:4
• 3. S Judges 5:5
• 4. S Job 9:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Psalms 68:7-8
• 5. S Job 41:20
• 6. S Exodus 15:7; S Exodus 19:18; S Job 41:21; Psalms 50:3; Psalms 97:3; Daniel 7:10
• 7. Proverbs 25:22; Romans 12:20
• 8. S Genesis 11:5; S Psalms 57:3; Psalms 144:5
• 9. S Exodus 20:21; S Deuteronomy 33:26; S Psalms 104:3
• 10. S Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 10:18; Psalms 80:1
• 11. S Deuteronomy 33:26
• 12. Psalms 104:3
• 13. S Exodus 19:9; S Deuteronomy 4:11; Psalms 97:2
• 14. S Job 22:14; Isaiah 4:5; Jeremiah 43:10
• 15. Psalms 104:2
• 16. S Joshua 10:11
• 17. S Job 36:30; Psalms 97:3
• 18. S Exodus 9:23; S 1 Samuel 2:10; Psalms 29:3; Psalms 104:7
• 19. S Deuteronomy 32:23
• 20. S Job 36:30; Revelation 4:5
• 21. S Judges 4:15; Psalms 144:6
• 22. S Psalms 11:3
• 23. Psalms 76:6; Psalms 104:7; Psalms 106:9; Isaiah 50:2
• 24. S Exodus 15:8

Footnotes

• [a]. Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Samuel 22:14); most Hebrew manuscripts "resounded," / "amid hailstones and bolts of lightning"