Psalm 18:1
I love you, LORD, my strength.
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
The shortest of them: I love you, LORD, my strength. The heading sets the psalm on the day the LORD delivered David from all his enemies and from Saul.
Psalms About Strength
Eighteen verses on strength, from God called my strength to strength failing and being given back.
The word strength runs all through the psalms, and most of the time it is not the reader's own. It belongs to God, who is called my strength, or it is given by him to his people. Several psalms speak plainly about strength failing, through age, illness or sorrow. Two verses set human strength aside altogether. This page gathers all four kinds.
The verses are grouped in five parts: the LORD is my strength, strength when yours fails, strength given to his people, strength and guidance, and where strength does not come from. Each shows the World English Bible text and a note. Tick any and print them as one sheet.
The LORD is my strength
Verses where the writer calls God my strength directly.
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield.My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped.Therefore my heart greatly rejoices.With my song I will thank him.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Strength and shield, then trust, then help, then joy, then song. The verse moves from what God is to what the writer does about it.
Psalm 118:14
The LORD is my strength and song.He has become my salvation.
The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
Strength and song belong together here. The LORD is what makes the writer strong and also what the writer sings about.
Psalm 59:17
To you, my strength, I will sing praises.For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.
Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.
To you, my strength, I will sing praises. The heading attributes the psalm to David when Saul sent men to watch his house to kill him.
Strength when your own strength fails
The psalms say plainly that strength runs out. These verses start there.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart fails,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart fails, and the verse does not argue with that. It adds a strength that does not fail: God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 71:9
Don’t reject me in my old age.Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
A prayer for old age: don't forsake me when my strength fails. The writer names age and failing strength together and asks not to be left alone in it.
Psalm 38:10
My heart throbs.My strength fails me.As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.
My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
My heart throbs. My strength fails me. Psalm 38 describes sickness in the body without softening it, and here even the light of the writer's eyes has gone.
Psalm 43:2
For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me?Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
You are the God of my strength, and in the same breath, why have you rejected me? The verse holds both at once.
Strength God gives to his people
Strength as a gift, promised to a whole people rather than earned.
Psalm 29:11
The LORD will give strength to his people.The LORD will bless his people with peace.
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
The last verse of a psalm about the LORD's voice thundering over the waters and breaking cedars. After the storm it ends with strength and peace for his people.
Psalm 68:35
You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries.The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people.Praise be to God!
O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. The strength is described as given, not owned.
Psalm 84:7
They go from strength to strength.Every one of them appears before God in Zion.
They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
They go from strength to strength. The people in view are pilgrims on their way to appear before God in Zion, who have just passed through the valley of Weeping.
Psalm 105:4
Seek the LORD and his strength.Seek his face forever more.
Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
Seek the LORD and his strength. Strength here is something to look for, alongside his face, not something to produce.
Psalms for strength and guidance
For when the need is both to keep going and to know which way.
Psalm 18:32
the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
Strength and direction in one line: the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
Psalm 31:3
For you are my rock and my fortress,therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
Rock and fortress are pictures of strength, and the request that follows is for guidance: for your name's sake lead me and guide me.
Psalm 62:7
My salvation and my honor is with God.The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. It is the same pairing of refuge and strength that opens Psalm 46.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God is our refuge and strength. The psalm goes on to picture the earth changing and the mountains shaken into the seas, and still says we won't be afraid.
Where strength does not come from
Two verses that set human strength aside. They are the other half of the picture.
Psalm 33:16
There is no king saved by the multitude of an army.A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
No king is saved by the size of his army, and a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. Two verses later the psalm points to the LORD's eye on those who fear him.
Psalm 147:10
He doesn’t delight in the strength of the horse.He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
He doesn't delight in the strength of the horse. The next verse says what he does take pleasure in: those who fear him and hope in his loving kindness.
Questions
Which psalm says the LORD is my strength?
Several do. Psalm 28:7 says the LORD is my strength and my shield, Psalm 118:14 says the LORD is my strength and song, and Psalm 18:1 says I love you, LORD, my strength.
What is the best psalm verse about strength?
Psalm 73:26 is the one for when your own strength has gone: God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 28:7 is the fullest statement of God as strength.
Which psalm says God is my refuge and strength?
Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 62:7 uses the same pair: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Is there a psalm for strength and guidance?
Psalm 18:32 speaks of the God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. Psalm 31:3 calls God rock and fortress and asks, lead me and guide me.
Where does from strength to strength appear in the psalms?
In Psalm 84:7, about pilgrims on the way to Zion: they go from strength to strength.
Other moments
Psalms for Strength and CouragePsalms of EncouragementPsalms for Comfort and StrengthPsalms About Faith and TrustPsalms for the SickPsalms for Guidance and Direction
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