2 SamuelChapter 22

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¹David sang this song to the LORD. He sang it on the day the LORD saved him from all his enemies and from Saul. ²He said:
"The LORD is my rock.
He is my fortress, and he is the one who saves me. ³My God is my rock. I run to him to be safe.
He is my shield and the horn that saves me.
He is my strong tower, my safe place, and my Savior.
You save me from violence. ⁴I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise.
So I will be saved from my enemies. ⁵For the waves of death rolled over me.
Floods of chaos swept me away. ⁶The ropes of the grave were wrapped around me.
The traps of death were set in front of me.a ⁷In my trouble I called on the LORD.
I cried out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice.
My cry for help reached his ears. ⁸Then the earth shook and trembled.
The foundations of the heavens shook.
They shook because he was burning with anger. ⁹Smoke rose from his nose.
Fire that burns up everything came from his mouth.
Burning coals blazed out from him. ¹⁰He split the heavens open and came down.
Dark clouds were under his feet. ¹¹He rode on a cherub and flew.
He soared on the wings of the wind. ¹²He made darkness a tent all around him.
He wrapped himself in dark rain and thick clouds. ¹³Out of the brightness around him,
coals of fire blazed out. ¹⁴The LORD thundered from heaven.
The voice of the Most High rang out. ¹⁵He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies.
He threw lightning and made them run. ¹⁶The bottom of the sea could be seen.
The foundations of the world were uncovered.
This happened when the LORD spoke sharply,
when the breath blew hard from his nose. ¹⁷He reached down from on high and took hold of me.
He pulled me out of deep waters. ¹⁸He saved me from my strong enemy.
He saved me from those who hated me.
They were too strong for me. ¹⁹They came against me on my day of trouble.
But the LORD held me up. ²⁰He brought me out into a wide open place.
He saved me because he was pleased with me. ²¹The LORD has rewarded me for my righteousness.
He has paid me back for the cleanness of my hands. ²²For I have kept the ways of the LORD.
I have not done evil by turning away from my God. ²³For all his laws are in front of me.
I have not ignored his rules. ²⁴I have been blameless before him.
I have kept myself from sin. ²⁵So the LORD has paid me back for my righteousness,
for my cleanness in his sight. ²⁶To the faithful you show that you are faithful.
To the blameless you show that you are blameless. ²⁷To the pure you show that you are pure.
But to the crooked you show that you are clever. ²⁸You save people who are hurting.
But your eyes are on the proud to bring them down. ²⁹For you, LORD, are my lamp.
The LORD lights up my darkness. ³⁰For in you I can charge at an army.
With my God I can climb over a wall. ³¹God's way is perfect.
The word of the LORD has no flaws.
He is a shield to all who run to him to be safe. ³²For who is God except the LORD?
Who is the Rock except our God? ³³God is my strong fortress.
He makes my path clear. ³⁴He makes my feet like the feet of a deer.
He sets me on the high places. ³⁵He trains my hands for battle.
My arms can bend a bow of bronze. ³⁶You have given me your shield that saves me.
Your gentleness makes me great. ³⁷You make the path under me wide.
So my ankles do not turn. ³⁸I chased my enemies and destroyed them.
I did not turn back until they were wiped out. ³⁹I ate them up and crushed them, so they could not get up.
They have fallen under my feet. ⁴⁰You gave me strength for battle.
You made my enemies bow down under me. ⁴¹You made my enemies turn and run from me.
I destroyed those who hated me. ⁴²They looked for help, but no one was there to save them.
They cried to the LORD, but he did not answer. ⁴³I ground them up like the dust of the earth.
I crushed them and stomped on them like mud in the streets. ⁴⁴You have saved me from the fighting among my people.
You have kept me as the head of nations.
A people I did not know will serve me. ⁴⁵Foreigners bow in fear before me.
As soon as they hear me, they obey me. ⁴⁶Foreigners lose heart.
They come out of their strong places shaking. ⁴⁷The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
May God be lifted high.
He is the Rock who saves me. ⁴⁸He is the God who pays back my enemies for me.
He brings nations down under me. ⁴⁹He sets me free from my enemies.
You lift me high above my enemies.
You save me from violent men. ⁵⁰So I will praise you, LORD, among the nations.
I will sing praises to your name. ⁵¹He brings great salvation to his king.
He shows faithful love to his anointed one,
to David and his descendants forever."