Why read Psalm 18?
Psalm 18 invites reflection on your thoughts, words and conscience. It joins the beauty of creation to the goodness of God's law, ending with a prayer that speech and meditation may be pleasing to Him.
You can read this psalm when its themes speak to your circumstances, or as part of your regular reading of the Psalter. This explanation draws on the text itself; the psalm is not reserved for one particular need.
Psalm 18 opens the heart with the cry "The heavens declare the glory of God...". It is one of the 15-verse psalms of the Third Kathisma, and it is said both at the services and in prayer at home — the Psalter being the constant companion of the Orthodox Christian.
The text of Psalm 18
1. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.
2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night proclaimeth knowledge.
3. There are no tongues nor words in which their voices are not heard.
4. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
5. In the sun hath He set His tabernacle; and He is as a bridegroom coming forth from his chamber.
6. He shall rejoice as a giant to run his course.
7. His going forth is from the uttermost part of heaven, and his setting unto the uttermost part of heaven; and there is none that shall hide himself from his heat.
8. The Law of the Lord is undefiled, converting souls; the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom unto babes;
9. The judgements of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is bright, enlightening the eyes.
10. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever and ever. The judgements of the Lord are true, justified in themselves.
11. Desired more than gold and much precious stone; and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.
12. For Thy servant keepeth them, and great is his reward when he observeth them.
13. Who shall understand his transgressions? From my hidden sins cleanse me,
14. And from those of others spare Thy servant; if they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be undefiled, and I shall be cleansed from great sin.
15. And the words of my mouth shall be well-pleasing, and the meditation of my heart before Thee at all times; O Lord, my Helper and my Redeemer.
When Psalm 18 is read
- It belongs to the Third Kathisma — the psalms are read in full in the cycle of the kathismata, at Matins and Vespers.
- At the end of each psalm, the tradition adds: "Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
Neighbouring psalms
The numbering follows the Orthodox Psalter (Septuagint). The same psalm may have a different number in other Bible editions.
