‏ 2 Samuel 22

David’s Song of Praise

1David sang the words of this song to the Lord. He sang them when the Lord saved him from the power of all his enemies and of Saul. 2He said,

“The Lord is my rock and my fort. He is the God who saves me.
3My God is my rock. I go to him for safety.
He is like a shield to me. He’s the power that saves me.
He’s my place of safety. I go to him for help. He’s my Savior.
He saves me from those who want to hurt me.
4I called out to the Lord. He is worthy of praise.
He saved me from my enemies.

5“The waves of death were all around me.
A destroying flood swept over me.
6The ropes of the grave were tight around me.
Death set its trap in front of me.
7When I was in trouble I called out to the Lord.
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice.
My cry for help reached his ears.

8“The earth trembled and shook.
The pillars of the heavens rocked back and forth.
They trembled because the Lord was angry.
9Smoke came out of his nose.
Flames of fire came out of his mouth.
Burning coals blazed out of it.
10He opened the heavens and came down.
Dark clouds were under his feet.
11He got on the cherubim and flew.
The wings of the wind lifted him up.
12He covered himself with darkness.
The dark rain clouds of the sky were like a tent around him.
13From the brightness all around him
flashes of lightning blazed out.
14The Lord thundered from heaven.
The voice of the Most High God was heard.
15He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy.
He sent flashes of lightning and chased them away.
16The bottom of the sea could be seen.
The foundations of the earth were uncovered.
It happened when the Lord’s anger blazed out.
It came like a blast of breath from his nose.

17“He reached down from heaven. He took hold of me.
He lifted me out of deep waters.
18He saved me from my powerful enemies.
He set me free from those who were too strong for me.
19They stood up to me when I was in trouble.
But the Lord helped me.
20He brought me out into a wide and safe place.
He saved me because he was pleased with me.

21“The Lord has been good to me because I do what is right.
He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life.
22I have lived the way the Lord wanted me to.
I’m not guilty of turning away from my God.
23I keep all his laws in mind.
I haven’t turned away from his commands.
24He knows that I am without blame.
He knows I’ve kept myself from sinning.
25The Lord has rewarded me for doing what is right.
He has rewarded me because I haven’t done anything wrong.

26“Lord, to those who are faithful you show that you are faithful.
To those who are without blame you show that you are without blame.
27To those who are pure you show that you are pure.
But to those whose paths are crooked you show that you are clever.
28You save those who aren’t proud.
But you watch the proud to bring them down.
29 Lord, you are my lamp.
You bring light into my darkness.
30With your help I can attack a troop of soldiers.
With the help of my God I can climb over a wall.

31“God’s way is perfect.
The Lord’s word doesn’t have any flaws.
He protects like a shield
all who go to him for safety.
32Who is God except the Lord?
Who is the Rock except our God?
33God gives me strength for the battle.
He keeps my way secure.
34He makes my feet like the feet of a deer.
He causes me to stand on the highest places.
35He trains my hands to fight every battle.
My arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 Lord, you shield me with your saving help.
Your help has made me great.
37You give me a wide path to walk in
so that I don’t twist my ankles.

38“I chased my enemies and crushed them.
I didn’t turn back until they were destroyed.
39I crushed them completely so that they couldn’t get up.
They fell under my feet.
40 Lord, you gave me strength to fight the battle.
You caused my enemies to be humble in front of me.
41You made them turn their backs and run away.
So I destroyed my enemies.
42They cried out for help. But there was no one to save them.
They called out to the Lord. But he didn’t answer them.
43I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth.
I pounded them and walked on them like mud in the streets.

44“You saved me when people attacked me.
You have kept me as the ruler over nations.
People I didn’t know serve me now.
45People from other lands bow down to me in fear.
As soon as they hear about me, they obey me.
46All of them give up hope.
They come trembling out of their hiding places.

47“The Lord lives! Give praise to my Rock!
Give honor to my God, the Rock! He is my Savior!
48He is the God who pays back my enemies.
He brings the nations under my control.
49He sets me free from my enemies.
You have honored me more than them.
You have saved me from a man who wanted to hurt me.
50 Lord, I will praise you among the nations.
I will sing your praise.
51He gives his king great victories.
He shows his faithful love to his anointed king.
He shows it to David and his family forever.”