2 Samuel 22

1David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song on the day Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

2And he said, “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer—even mine.”

3God, my rock—in him I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high tower and my refuge, my savior; you rescue me from violence.

4I call on praiseworthy Yahweh and am saved from my enemies.

5For the waves of death surrounded me; the floods of ungodliness terrified me.

6The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me.

7In my distress I called to Yahweh and to my God; he heard my voice from his temple, and my cry reached his ears.

8The earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and shook, because he burned with anger.

9Smoke rose from his nostrils, fire from his mouth consumed, coals blazed from it.

10He bent the heavens and came down, with darkness under his feet.

11He rode a cherub and flew, appearing on the wings of the wind.

12He arrayed darkness around him as pavilions, dark waters and thick clouds of the heavens.

13From the brightness before him, coals of fire burned.

14Yahweh thundered from heaven, and the Most High sounded his voice.

15He shot arrows and dispersed them; lightning confounded and crushed them.

16The channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were uncovered at Yahweh's rebuke, from the blast of the breath in his nostrils.

17He sent from on high and took me; he drew me from many waters.

18He rescued me from my fierce enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

19They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.

20He led me out into a spacious place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

21Yahweh dealt bountifully with me according to my righteousness; according to the purity of my hands he repaid me.

22For I have kept the ways of Yahweh and have not acted wickedly against my God.

23For all his judgments were before my eyes, and I did not turn aside from his statutes.

24I was blameless toward him, and I guarded myself from my iniquity.

25Yahweh repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my purity before his eyes.

26With the godly you show yourself merciful; with the blameless champion you show yourself blameless.

27With the pure you act purely, and with the crooked you act shrewdly.

28You save the humble people, but your eyes are upon the haughty to bring them low.

29For you, Yahweh, are my lamp, and Yahweh will enlighten my darkness.

30For by you I rush a troop; by my God I leap a wall.

31God’s way is perfect; Yahweh’s word is refined. He is a shield to all who trust in him.

32For who is God except Yahweh? And who is a rock except our God?

33God is my strong fortress, and he makes his way and my way perfect.

34He makes his feet firm and my feet like hinds', and sets me on my high places.

35He trains my hands for battle, and bends a bronze bow with my arms.

36You gave me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.

37You made room for my steps beneath me, so my feet did not slip.

38I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until I had consumed them.

39I devoured them and crushed them, and they could not rise; they fell under my feet.

40You girded me with strength for the battle; you bowed beneath me those who rose up against me.

41You have given my enemies' backs to me, and I destroyed those who hate me.

42They gazed about, but there was no deliverer; to Yahweh, but he gave them no answer.

43I beat them like the dust of the earth, crushed them like the mire of the streets, and spread them out.

44You delivered me from the strivings of my people; you keep me as head of nations—a people I have not known will serve me.

45Foreigners cringe before me; when their ears hear, they obey me.

46Sons of foreigners will wither, and they will tremble from their strongholds.

47Yahweh lives! Blessed is my rock! May God the rock of my salvation be exalted!

48God, who gives me vengeance and brings peoples down under me.

49You bring me out from my enemies and those rising up against me; you exalt me above them, you deliver me from the man of violence.

50Therefore I will praise you, Yahweh, among the nations and sing to your name.

51He raises a tower of deliverances for his king and shows favor to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.