2 Samuel 22

1David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, 2my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; “Yahweh is my rock, and he said: 3my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence. God is my rock in whom I take refuge; 4So shall I be saved from my enemies. I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; 5The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. For the waves of death surrounded me. 6The snares of death caught me. The cords of Sheol * were around me. 7Yes, I called to my God. My cry came into his ears. In my distress, I called on Yahweh. He heard my voice out of his temple. 8The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. Then the earth shook and trembled. 9Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. Smoke went up out of his nostrils. 10Thick darkness was under his feet. He bowed the heavens also, and came down. 11Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind. He rode on a cherub, and flew. 12gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. He made darkness a shelter around himself: 13coals of fire were kindled. At the brightness before him, 14The Most High uttered his voice. Yahweh thundered from heaven. 15lightning, and confused them. He sent out arrows, and scattered them; 16The foundations of the world were laid bare by Yahweh’s rebuke, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. Then the channels of the sea appeared. 17He drew me out of many waters. He sent from on high and he took me. 18from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. He delivered me from my strong enemy, 19but Yahweh was my support. They came on me in the day of my calamity, 20He delivered me, because he delighted in me. He also brought me out into a large place. 21He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands. Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. 22and have not wickedly departed from my God. For I have kept Yahweh’s ways, 23As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. For all his ordinances were before me. 24I kept myself from my iniquity. I was also perfect toward him. 25According to my cleanness in his eyesight. Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, 26With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. 27With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 28But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down. You will save the afflicted people, 29Yahweh will light up my darkness. For you are my lamp, Yahweh. 30By my God, I leap over a wall. For by you, I run against a troop. 31Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. As for God, his way is perfect. 32Who is a rock, besides our God? For who is God, besides Yahweh? 33He makes my way perfect. God is my strong fortress. 34and sets me on my high places. He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, 35so that my arms bend a bow of brass. He teaches my hands to war, 36Your gentleness has made me great. You have also given me the shield of your salvation. 37My feet have not slipped. You have enlarged my steps under me. 38I didn’t turn again until they were consumed. I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. 39and struck them through, so that they can’t arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet. I have consumed them, 40You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. For you have armed me with strength for the battle. 41that I might cut off those who hate me. You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, 42even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them. They looked, but there was no one to save; 43I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad. Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. 44You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me. You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. 45As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. The foreigners will submit themselves to me. 46and will come trembling out of their close places. The foreigners will fade away, 47Blessed be my rock! Yahweh lives! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me, 49who brings me away from my enemies. You deliver me from the violent man. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. 50and will sing praises to your name. Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, 51and shows loving kindness to his anointed, * forever more.” He gives great deliverance to his king,