2 Samuel 22:1-51

David Sings to the Lord

22:1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. 22:2 He said:

“The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer.

22:3 My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter,

my shield, the horn that saves me, my stronghold,

my refuge, my savior. You save me from violence!

22:4 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,

and I was delivered from my enemies.

22:5 The waves of death engulfed me;

the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.

22:6 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me;

the snares of death trapped me.

22:7 In my distress I called to the Lord;

I called to my God.

From his heavenly temple he heard my voice;

he listened to my cry for help.

22:8 The earth heaved and shook;

the foundations of the sky trembled.

They heaved because he was angry.

22:9 Smoke ascended from his nose;

fire devoured as it came from his mouth;

he hurled down fiery coals.

22:10 He made the sky sink as he descended;

a thick cloud was under his feet.

22:11 He mounted a winged angel and flew;

he glided on the wings of the wind.

22:12 He shrouded himself in darkness,

in thick rain clouds.

22:13 From the brightness in front of him

came coals of fire.

22:14 The Lord thundered from the sky;

the sovereign One shouted loudly.

22:15 He shot arrows and scattered them,

lightning and routed them.

22:16 The depths of the sea were exposed;

the inner regions of the world were uncovered

by the Lord’s battle cry,

by the powerful breath from his nose.

22:17 He reached down from above and grabbed me;

he pulled me from the surging water.

22:18 He rescued me from my strong enemy,

from those who hate me,

for they were too strong for me.

22:19 They confronted me in my day of calamity,

but the Lord helped me.

22:20 He brought me out into a wide open place;

he delivered me because he was pleased with me.

22:21 The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds;

he rewarded my blameless behavior.

22:22 For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands;

I have not rebelled against my God.

22:23 For I am aware of all his regulations,

and I do not reject his rules.

22:24 I was blameless before him;

I kept myself from sinning.

22:25 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds;

he took notice of my blameless behavior.

22:26 You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful;

you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.

22:27 You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless,

but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.

22:28 You deliver oppressed people,

but you watch the proud and bring them down.

22:29 Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord.

The Lord illumines the darkness around me.

22:30 Indeed,with your help I can charge against an army;

by my God’s power I can jump over a wall.

22:31 The one true God acts in a faithful manner;

the Lord’s promise is reliable;

he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

22:32 Indeed, who is God besides the Lord?

Who is a protector besides our God?

22:33 The one true God is my mighty refuge;

he removes the obstacles in my way.

22:34 He gives me the agility of a deer;

he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.

22:35 He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend even the strongest bow.

22:36 You give me your protective shield;

your willingness to help enables me to prevail.

22:37 You widen my path;

my feet do not slip.

22:38 I chase my enemies and destroy them;

I do not turn back until I wipe them out.

22:39 I wipe them out and beat them to death;

they cannot get up;

they fall at my feet.

22:40 You give me strength for battle;

you make my foes kneel before me.

22:41 You make my enemies retreat;

I destroy those who hate me.

22:42 They cry out, but there is no one to help them;

they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

22:43 I grind them as fine as the dust of the ground;

I crush them and stomp on them like clay in the streets.

22:44 You rescue me from a hostile army;

you preserve me as a leader of nations;

people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

22:45 Foreigners are powerless before me;

when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.

22:46 Foreigners lose their courage;

they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.

22:47 The Lord is alive!

My protector is praiseworthy!

The God who delivers me is exalted as king!

22:48 The one true God completely vindicates me;

he makes nations submit to me.

22:49 He delivers me from my enemies;

you snatch me away from those who attack me;

you rescue me from violent men.

22:50 So I will give you thanks, O Lord, before the nations!

I will sing praises to you.

22:51 He gives his chosen king magnificent victories;

he is faithful to his chosen ruler,

to David and to his descendants forever!”