1 [For the choir director; by David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD when the LORD rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul. He said,] I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold.

3The LORD should be praised. I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.

4The ropes of death had become tangled around me. The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.

5The ropes of the grave had surrounded me. The clutches of death had confronted me.

6I called on the LORD in my distress. I cried to my God for help. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help reached his ears.

7Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the mountains trembled. They shook violently because he was angry.

8Smoke went up from his nostrils, and a raging fire came out of his mouth. Glowing coals flared up from it.

9He spread apart the heavens and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.

10He rode on one of the angels as he flew, and he soared on the wings of the wind.

11He made the darkness his hiding place, the dark rain clouds his covering.

12Out of the brightness in front of him, those rain clouds passed by with hailstones and lightning.

13The LORD thundered in the heavens. The Most High made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning.

14He shot his arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion.

15Then the ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at your stern warning, O LORD, at the blast of the breath from your nostrils.

16He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water.

17He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.

18On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me, but the LORD came to my defense.

19He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me.

20The LORD rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back

21because I have kept the ways of the LORD and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,

22because all his judgments are in front of me and I have not turned away from his laws.

23I was innocent as far as he was concerned. I have kept myself from guilt.

24The LORD paid me back because of my righteousness, because he can see that my hands are clean.

25[In dealing] with faithful people you are faithful, with innocent people you are innocent,

26with pure people you are pure. [In dealing] with devious people you are clever.

27You save humble people, but you bring down a conceited look.

28O LORD, you light my lamp. My God turns my darkness into light.

29With you I can attack a line of soldiers. With my God I can break through barricades.

30God'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.

31Who is God but the LORD? Who is a rock except our God?

32God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

33He makes my feet like those of a deer and gives me sure footing on high places.

34He trains my hands for battle so that my arms can bend an [archer's] bow of bronze.

35You have given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand supports me. Your gentleness makes me great.

36You make a wide path for me to walk on so that my feet do not slip.

37I chased my enemies and caught up with them. I did not return until I had ended their lives.

38I wounded them so badly that they were unable to get up. They fell under my feet.

39You armed me with strength for battle. You made my opponents bow at my feet.

40You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and I destroyed those who hated me.

41They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried out to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

42I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust blown by the wind. I threw them out as though they were dirt on the streets.

43You rescued me from my conflicts with the people. You made me the leader of nations. A people I did not know will serve me:

44As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. Foreigners will cringe in front of me.

45Foreigners will lose heart, and they will tremble when they come out of their fortifications.

46The LORD lives! Thanks be to my rock! May God my Savior be honored.

47God gives me vengeance! He brings people under my authority.

48He saves me from my enemies. You lift me up above my opponents. You rescue me from violent people.

49That is why I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations and make music to praise your name.

50He gives great victories to his king. He shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendant forever.