1 David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. |
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3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn1 22:3 Horn here symbolizes strength. of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-
from violent men you save me. |
4 I call to the LORD , who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies. |
5 "The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. |
6 The cords of the grave2 22:6 Hebrew Sheol coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me. |
7 In my distress I called to the LORD ;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears. |
8 "The earth trembled and quaked,
the foundations of the heavens3 22:8 Hebrew; Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:7) mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry. |
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it. |
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet. |
11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared4 22:11 Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also Psalm 18:10); most Hebrew manuscripts appeared on the wings of the wind. |
12 He made darkness his canopy around him-
the dark5 22:12 Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:11); Hebrew massed rain clouds of the sky. |
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning blazed forth. |
14 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded. |
15 He shot arrows and scattered the enemies ,
bolts of lightning and routed them. |
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the LORD ,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils. |
17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters. |
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me. |
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support. |
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me. |
21 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. |
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD ;
I have not done evil by turning from my God. |
23 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees. |
24 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin. |
25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness6 22:25 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:24) to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. |
26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless, |
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. |
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. |
29 You are my lamp, O LORD ;
the LORD turns my darkness into light. |
30 With your help I can advance against a troop7 22:30 Or can run through a barricade ;
with my God I can scale a wall. |
31 "As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him. |
32 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God? |
33 It is God who arms me with strength8 22:33 Dead Sea Scrolls, some Septuagint manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:32); Masoretic Text who is my strong refuge
and makes my way perfect. |
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights. |
35 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze. |
36 You give me your shield of victory;
you stoop down to make me great. |
37 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn. |
38 "I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed. |
39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet. |
40 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet. |
41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes. |
42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them-
to the LORD , but he did not answer. |
43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets. |
44 "You have delivered me from the attacks of my people;
you have preserved me as the head of nations.
People I did not know are subject to me, |
45 and foreigners come cringing to me;
as soon as they hear me, they obey me. |
46 They all lose heart;
they come trembling9 22:46 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:45); Masoretic Text they arm themselves . from their strongholds. |
47 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! |
48 He is the God who avenges me,
who puts the nations under me, |
49 who sets me free from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me. |
50 Therefore I will praise you, O LORD , among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name. |
51 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever." |
