22:1 David sang this song to the LORD when the LORD rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul.
22:2 He said, The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior,
22:3 my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, the strength of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior who saved me from violence.
22:4 The LORD should be praised. I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.
22:5 The waves of death had surrounded me. The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.
22:6 The ropes of the grave had surrounded me. The clutches of death had confronted me.
22:7 I called on the LORD in my distress. I called to my God for help. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help reached his ears.
22:8 Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the heavens trembled. They shook violently because he was angry.
22:9 Smoke went up from his nostrils, and a raging fire came out of his mouth. Glowing coals flared up from it.
22:10 He spread apart the heavens and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.
22:11 He rode on one of the angels as he flew, and he soared on the wings of the wind.
22:12 He surrounded himself with darkness. He made the dark rain clouds his covering.
22:13 Out of the brightness in front of him, he made lightning.
22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven. The Most High made his voice heard.
22:15 He shot arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion.
22:16 Then the ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at the LORD's stern warning, at the blast of the breath from his nostrils.
22:17 He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water.
22:18 He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.
22:19 On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me, but the LORD became my defense.
22:20 He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me.
22:21 The LORD rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back
22:22 because I have kept the ways of the LORD and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,
22:23 because all his judgments are in front of me and I have not turned away from his laws.
22:24 I was innocent as far as he was concerned. I have kept myself from guilt.
22:25 The LORD paid me back because of my righteousness, because he can see that I am clean.
22:26 [In dealing] with faithful people you are faithful, with innocent warriors you are innocent,
22:27 with pure people you are pure. [In dealing] with devious people you are clever.
22:28 You save humble people, but your eyes bring down arrogant people.
22:29 O LORD, you are my lamp. The LORD turns my darkness into light.
22:30 With you I can attack a line of soldiers. With my God I can break through barricades.
22:31 God's way is perfect! The promise of the LORD has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
22:32 Who is God but the LORD? Who is a rock other than our God?
22:33 God arms me with strength. His perfect way sets me free.
22:34 He makes my feet like those of a deer and gives me sure footing on high places.
22:35 He trains my hands for battle so that my arms can bend an [archer's] bow of bronze.
22:36 You have given me the shield of your salvation. Your help makes me great.
22:37 You make a wide path for me to walk on so that my feet do not slip.
22:38 I chased my enemies and destroyed them. I did not return until I had ended their lives.
22:39 I ended their lives by shattering them. They were unable to get up. They fell under my feet.
22:40 You armed me with strength for battle. You made my opponents bow at my feet.
22:41 You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and I destroyed those who hated me.
22:42 They looked, but there was no one to save them. They looked to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
22:43 I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust on the ground. I crushed them and stomped on them like the dirt on the streets.
22:44 You rescued me from my conflicts with my people. You kept me as the leader of nations. A people I did not know will serve me.
22:45 Foreigners will cringe in front of me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
22:46 Foreigners will lose heart, although they are armed in their fortifications.
22:47 The LORD lives! Thanks be to my rock! May God, the rock of my salvation, be glorified.
22:48 God gives me vengeance! He brings people under my authority.
22:49 He frees me from my enemies. You lift me up above my opponents. You rescue me from violent people.
22:50 That is why I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations and make music to praise your name.
22:51 He gives great victories to his king. He shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendant forever.
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