NET Bible

David Sings to the Lord

^22:1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. ^22:2 He said:

^22:2 “The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. ^22:3 My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, my stronghold, my refuge, my savior. You save me from violence! ^22:4 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies. ^22:5 The waves of death engulfed me; the currents of chaos overwhelmed me. ^22:6 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me; the snares of death trapped me. ^22:7 In my distress I called to the Lord; I called to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help. ^22:8 The earth heaved and shook; the foundations of the sky trembled. They heaved because he was angry. ^22:9 Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals. ^22:10 He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet. ^22:11 He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind. ^22:12 He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds. ^22:13 From the brightness in front of him came coals of fire. ^22:14 The Lord thundered from the sky; the Most High shouted loudly. ^22:15 He shot arrows and scattered them, lightning and routed them. ^22:16 The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by the Lord’s battle cry, by the powerful breath from his nose. ^22:17 He reached down from above and grabbed me; he pulled me from the surging water. ^22:18 He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me. ^22:19 They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me. ^22:20 He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me. ^22:21 The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior. ^22:22 For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands; I have not rebelled against my God. ^22:23 For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules. ^22:24 I was blameless before him; I kept myself from sinning. ^22:25 The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior. ^22:26 You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent. ^22:27 You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse. ^22:28 You deliver oppressed people, but you watch the proud and bring them down. ^22:29 Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord. The Lord illumines the darkness around me. ^22:30 Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my God’s power I can jump over a wall. ^22:31 The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord’s promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him. ^22:32 Indeed, who is God besides the Lord? Who is a protector besides our God? ^22:33 The one true God is my mighty refuge; he removes the obstacles in my way. ^22:34 He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. ^22:35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow. ^22:36 You give me your protective shield; your willingness to help enables me to prevail. ^22:37 You widen my path; my feet do not slip. ^22:38 I chase my enemies and destroy them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out. ^22:39 I wipe them out and beat them to death; they cannot get up; they fall at my feet. ^22:40 You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me. ^22:41 You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me. ^22:42 They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them. ^22:43 I grind them as fine as the dust of the ground; I crush them and stomp them like clay in the streets. ^22:44 You rescue me from a hostile army; you preserve me as a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects. ^22:45 Foreigners are powerless before me; when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. ^22:46 Foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds. ^22:47 The Lord is alive! My Protector is praiseworthy! The God who delivers me is exalted as king! ^22:48 The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me. ^22:49 He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men. ^22:50 So I will give you thanks, O Lord, before the nations! I will sing praises to you. ^22:51 He gives his king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and to his descendants forever!”