2 Samuel 22
22
David’s Song of Deliverance
(Psalm 18:1–50)
1David sang this song to the Lord when the Lord rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul. 2He said,
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my Savior,
3my 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.
4The Lord should be praised.
I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.
5The waves of death had surrounded me.
The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.
6The ropes of the grave had surrounded me.
The clutches of death had confronted me.
7I 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.
8Then the earth shook and quaked.
Even the foundations of the heavens trembled.
They shook violently because he was angry.
9Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and a raging fire came out of his mouth.
Glowing coals flared up from it.
10He spread apart the heavens
and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.
11He rode on one of the angels #22:11 Or “cherubim.” as he flew,
and he soared on the wings of the wind.
12He surrounded himself with darkness.
He made the dark rain clouds his covering.
13Out of the brightness in front of him, he made lightning.
14The Lord thundered from heaven.
The Most High made his voice heard.
15He shot arrows and scattered them.
He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion.
16Then 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.
17He reached down from high above and took hold of me.
He pulled me out of the raging water.
18He rescued me from my strong enemy
and from those who hated me,
because they were too strong for me.
19On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me,
but the Lord became my defense.
20He brought me out to a wide-open place.
He rescued me because he was pleased with me.
21The Lord rewarded me
because of my righteousness,
because my hands are clean.
He paid me back
22because I have kept the ways of the Lord
and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,
23because all his judgments are in front of me
and I have not turned away from his laws.
24I was innocent as far as he was concerned.
I have kept myself from guilt.
25The Lord paid me back
because of my righteousness,
because he can see that I am clean.
26 ⌞In dealing⌟ with faithful people you are faithful,
with innocent warriors you are innocent,
27with pure people you are pure.
⌞In dealing⌟ with devious people you are clever.
28You save humble people,
but your eyes bring down arrogant people.
29O Lord, you are my lamp.
The Lord turns my darkness into light.
30With you I can attack a line of soldiers.
With my God I can break through barricades.
31God’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.
32Who is God but the Lord?
Who is a rock other than our God?
33God arms me with strength.#22:33 Dead Sea Scrolls, Psalm 18:33, Greek, Syriac, Latin; Masoretic Text “my refuge is strength.”
His perfect way sets me free.
34He makes my feet like those of a deer
and gives me sure footing on high places.
35He trains my hands for battle
so that my arms can bend an ⌞archer’s⌟ bow of bronze.
36You have given me the shield of your salvation.
Your help makes me great.
37You make a wide path for me to walk on
so that my feet do not slip.
38I chased my enemies and destroyed them.
I did not return until I had ended their lives.
39I ended their lives by shattering them.
They were unable to get up.
They fell under my feet.
40You armed me with strength for battle.
You made my opponents bow at my feet.
41You made my enemies turn their backs to me,
and I destroyed those who hated me.
42They looked, but there was no one to save them.
They looked to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
43I 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.
44You 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.
45Foreigners will cringe in front of me.
As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
46Foreigners will lose heart,
although they are armed in their fortifications.
47The Lord lives!
Thanks be to my rock!
May God, the rock of my salvation, be glorified.
48God gives me vengeance!
He brings people under my authority.
49He frees me from my enemies.
You lift me up above my opponents.
You rescue me from violent people.
50That is why I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the nations
and make music to praise your name.
51He gives great victories to his king.
He shows mercy to his anointed,
to David, and to his descendant #22:51 Or “to his descendants.” forever.
Currently Selected:
2 Samuel 22: GW
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
2 Samuel 22
22
David Sings to the Lord
(Psalm 18.1-50)
1David sang a song to the Lord after the Lord had rescued him from his enemies, especially Saul. These are the words to David's song:
2Our Lord and our God,
you are my mighty rock,#22.2 mighty rock: The Hebrew text has “rock,” which is sometimes used in poetry to compare the Lord to a mountain where his people can run for protection from their enemies.
my fortress, my protector.
3You are the rock
where I am safe.
You are my shield,
my powerful weapon,#22.3 powerful weapon: The Hebrew has “the horn,” which refers to the horn of a bull, one of the most powerful animals in ancient Palestine.
and my place of shelter.
You rescue me and keep me
safe from violence.
4I praise you, our Lord!
I prayed to you,
and you rescued me
from my enemies.
5Death, like ocean waves,
surrounded me,
and I was almost swallowed
by its flooding waters.
6Ropes from the world
of the dead
had coiled around me,
and death had set a trap
in my path.
7I was in terrible trouble
when I called out to you,
but from your temple
you heard me
and answered my prayer.
8Earth shook and shivered!
The columns supporting the sky#22.8 columns … sky: The sky was sometimes described as a dome that was held up by a foundation or pillars.
rocked back and forth.
You were angry
9and breathed out smoke.
Scorching heat and fiery flames
spewed from your mouth.
10You opened the heavens
like curtains,
and you came down
with storm clouds
under your feet.
11You rode on the backs
of flying creatures.#22.11 flying creatures: These were supernatural beings (see the note at 6.2).
You appeared#22.11 appeared: Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts “swooped down” (see Psalm 18.10).
with the wind as wings.
12Darkness was your tent!
Thunderclouds filled the sky,
hiding you from sight.
13Fiery coals lit up the sky
in front of you.
14 Lord Most High, your voice
thundered from the heavens.
15You scattered your enemies
with arrows of lightning.
16You roared at the sea,
and its deepest channels
could be seen.
You snorted,
and the earth shook
to its foundations.
17You reached down from heaven,
and you lifted me
from deep in the ocean.
18You rescued me from enemies
who were hateful
and too powerful for me.
19On the day disaster struck,
they came and attacked,
but you defended me.
20When I was fenced in,
you freed and rescued me
because you love me.
21You are good to me, Lord,
because I do right,
and you reward me
because I am innocent.
22I do what you want
and never turn to do evil.
23I keep your laws in mind
and never turn away
from your teachings.
24I obey you completely
and guard against sin.
25You have been good to me
because I do right;
you have rewarded me
for being innocent
by your standards.
26You are always loyal
to your loyal people,
and you are faithful
to the faithful.
27With all who are sincere
you are sincere,
but you treat the unfaithful
as their deeds deserve.
28You rescue the humble,
but you look for ways
to put down the proud.
29Our Lord and God,
you are my lamp.
You turn darkness to light.
30You help me defeat armies
and capture cities.
31Your way is perfect, Lord,
and your word is correct.
You are a shield for those
who run to you for help.
32You alone are God!
Only you are a mighty rock.#22.32 mighty rock: See the note at 22.2.
33You are my strong fortress,
and you set me free.
34 #
Hb 3.19. You make my feet run as fast
as those of a deer,
and you help me stand
on the mountains.
35You teach my hands to fight
and my arms to use
a bow of bronze.
36You alone are my shield,
and by coming to help me,
you have made me famous.
37You clear the way for me,
and now I won't stumble.
38I kept chasing my enemies
until I caught them
and destroyed them.
39I destroyed them!
I stuck my sword
through my enemies,
and they were crushed
under my feet.
40You helped me win victories
and forced my attackers
to fall victim to me.
41You made my enemies run,
and I killed them.
42They cried out for help,
but no one saved them;
they called out to you,
but there was no answer.
43I ground them to dust,
and I squashed them
like mud in the streets.
44You rescued me
from my stubborn people
and made me the leader
of foreign nations,
who are now my slaves.
45They obey and come crawling.
46They have lost all courage
and from their fortresses
they come trembling.
47You are the living Lord!
I will praise you!
You are a mighty rock.#22.47 mighty rock: See the note at 22.2.
I will honor you
for keeping me safe.
48You took revenge for me,
and you put nations
in my power.
49You protected me
from violent enemies,
and you made me much greater
than all of them.
50 #
Ro 15.9. I will praise you, Lord,
and I will honor you
among the nations.
51You give glorious victories
to your chosen king.
Your faithful love for David
and for his descendants
will never end.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.