2 Samuel 22 / 24
- 1David 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.
- 2He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
- 3my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior- from violent men you save me.
- 4I 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.
- 6The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
- 7In 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 heavens shook; they trembled because he was angry.
- 9Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
- 10He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.
- 11He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
- 12He made darkness his canopy around him- the dark rain clouds of the sky.
- 13Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth.
- 14The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
- 15He shot arrows and scattered the enemies , bolts of lightning and routed them.
- 16The 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.
- 18He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
- 19They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
- 20He 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.
- 22For I have kept the ways of the LORD ; I have not done evil by turning from my God.
- 23All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
- 24I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
- 25The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
- 26"To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
- 27to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
- 28You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
- 29You are my lamp, O LORD ; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
- 30With your help I can advance against a troop ; 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.
- 32For who is God besides the LORD ? And who is the Rock except our God?
- 33It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
- 34He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
- 35He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
- 36You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great.
- 37You 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.
- 39I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
- 40You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
- 41You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
- 42They cried for help, but there was no one to save them- to the LORD , but he did not answer.
- 43I 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,
- 45and foreigners come cringing to me; as soon as they hear me, they obey me.
- 46They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.
- 47"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!
- 48He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me,
- 49who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me.
- 50Therefore I will praise you, O LORD , among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
- 51He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever."