2 Samuel 22

1David sang the words of this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from the power of all his enemies and from the power of Saul. 2He said: “The LORD is my cliff, my stronghold, the one who sets me free, 3my God, my rock, in whom I shelter, my shield, my strong salvation, my tower on the heights and my place of escape, my savior; you save me from violence. 4I call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and from my enemies I am rescued. 5For the waves of death swirled around me; floods of ruin overwhelmed me with terror. 6The ropes of Sheol coiled around me; death’s traps lay right in front of me. 7When I was hard pressed I called on the LORD; I called to my God. Out of his temple he listened to my voice; my cry reached his ears. 8Then the earth shuddered and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and were shaken, because he was furious. 9Smoke rose from his nostrils, and fire that consumes came from his mouth; burning coals flamed out of it. 10He bowed the heavens low and came down; storm clouds were dark beneath his feet. 11Riding on a cherub, he flew; he appeared on the wings of the wind. 12He made darkness a tent all around him, a mass of rain clouds, thick clouds of the sky. 13Out of the brightness in front of him burning coals flamed up. 14The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High raised his voice. 15He let arrows fly and scattered the enemy; he sent lightning and threw them into confusion. 16The beds of the sea came into view; the world’s foundations lay bare at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of breath from his nostrils. 17From on high he stretched out his hand and seized me; he pulled me out of deep waters. 18He snatched me away from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me, because they were stronger than I was. 19They came at me on my day of disaster, but the LORD held me up. 20He led me out into open country; he set me free, because he was pleased with me. 21The LORD treated me as my right conduct deserved; he rewarded me because my hands were clean. 22For I have walked in the LORD’s ways and have not turned from my God to do evil. 23All his rulings have been in front of me; I have not turned aside from his laws. 24I was whole-hearted toward him; I guarded myself from sin. 25So the LORD rewarded me for doing right, for the cleanness he could see in me. 26To the faithful you are faithful; to the strong who have integrity you show integrity. 27To the pure you prove yourself pure, but with the crooked you are subtle. 28You rescue people who are humbled, but your eyes are on the proud, and you bring them down. 29You are my lamp, LORD; the LORD brightens my darkness. 30With you I can rush an armed band; by the strength of my God I can vault a wall. 31This is God: his way is without flaw; the word of the LORD is tested and true; he is a shield for all who make him their refuge. 32Is there any God but the LORD? Is there any rock but our God? 33the God who is my strong fortress, who sets my way free and makes it secure, 34who makes my feet as sure as a deer’s and sets me firm on the heights, 35who trains my hands for war, so that my arms can draw a bronze bow. 36You have handed me your saving shield, and your answer has made me great. 37You make room for my steps, so my ankles do not turn. 38I chased my enemies and wiped them out; I did not give up the chase until I had made an end of them. 39I made an end of them and shattered them, and they did not stand again; they lay fallen at my feet. 40You strapped strength on me for the fight; you brought my attackers to their knees beneath me. 41You put my enemies to flight before me, and I destroyed those who hated me. 42They looked for help, but no one came to save them; they looked to the LORD, but he gave them no answer. 43I ground them as fine as the dust of the ground; I crushed them and trampled them like mud in the streets. 44You set me free from the quarrels of my own people; you kept me at the head of the nations. A nation I never knew now serves me. 45Foreigners come to me cringing; the moment they hear, they obey me. 46Foreigners lose heart; they put on their belts and come out of their fortresses. 47The LORD is alive! Blessed be my rock! May God, the rock who saves me, be lifted high, 48the God who avenges me and brings nations down beneath me, 49who brings me out from among my enemies. You raise me high above my attackers; you save me from the violent man. 50That is why I will give you thanks, LORD, among the nations, and sing praise to your name. 51He is a tower of victories for his king; he keeps faith in loyal love with his anointed one, with David and his line for all time.”