Afternoon Prayer

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.