David Sings to the Lord

1David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. 2He said:

“The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer.

3My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter,

my shield, the horn that saves me, my stronghold,

my refuge, my savior. You save me from violence!

4I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,

and I was delivered from my enemies.

5The waves of death engulfed me;

the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.

6The ropes of Sheol tightened around me;

the snares of death trapped me.

7In my distress I called to the Lord;

I called to my God.

From his heavenly temple he heard my voice;

he listened to my cry for help.

8The earth heaved and shook;

the foundations of the sky trembled.

They heaved because he was angry.

9Smoke ascended from his nose;

fire devoured as it came from his mouth;

he hurled down fiery coals.

10He made the sky sink as he descended;

a thick cloud was under his feet.

11He mounted a winged angel and flew;

he glided on the wings of the wind.

12He shrouded himself in darkness,

in thick rain clouds.

13From the brightness in front of him

came coals of fire.

14The Lord thundered from the sky;

the sovereign One shouted loudly.

15He shot arrows and scattered them,

lightning and routed them.

16The depths of the sea were exposed;

the inner regions of the world were uncovered

by the Lord’s battle cry,

by the powerful breath from his nose.

17He reached down from above and grabbed me;

he pulled me from the surging water.

18He rescued me from my strong enemy,

from those who hate me,

for they were too strong for me.

19They confronted me in my day of calamity,

but the Lord helped me.

20He brought me out into a wide open place;

he delivered me because he was pleased with me.

21The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds;

he rewarded my blameless behavior.

22For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands;

I have not rebelled against my God.

23For I am aware of all his regulations,

and I do not reject his rules.

24I was blameless before him;

I kept myself from sinning.

25The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds;

he took notice of my blameless behavior.

26You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful;

you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.

27You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless,

but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.

28You deliver oppressed people,

but you watch the proud and bring them down.

29Indeed, you are my lamp, Lord.

The Lord illumines the darkness around me.

30Indeed,with your help I can charge against an army;

by my God’s power I can jump over a wall.

31The one true God acts in a faithful manner;

the Lord’s promise is reliable;

he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.

32Indeed, who is God besides the Lord?

Who is a protector besides our God?

33The one true God is my mighty refuge;

he removes the obstacles in my way.

34He gives me the agility of a deer;

he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.

35He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend even the strongest bow.

36You give me your protective shield;

your willingness to help enables me to prevail.

37You widen my path;

my feet do not slip.

38I chase my enemies and destroy them;

I do not turn back until I wipe them out.

39I wipe them out and beat them to death;

they cannot get up;

they fall at my feet.

40You give me strength for battle;

you make my foes kneel before me.

41You make my enemies retreat;

I destroy those who hate me.

42They cry out, but there is no one to help them;

they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

43I grind them as fine as the dust of the ground;

I crush them and stomp on them like clay in the streets.

44You rescue me from a hostile army;

you preserve me as a leader of nations;

people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.

45Foreigners are powerless before me;

when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.

46Foreigners lose their courage;

they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.

47The Lord is alive!

My protector is praiseworthy!

The God who delivers me is exalted as king!

48The one true God completely vindicates me;

he makes nations submit to me.

49He delivers me from my enemies;

you snatch me away from those who attack me;

you rescue me from violent men.

50So I will give you thanks, O Lord, before the nations!

I will sing praises to you.

51He gives his chosen king magnificent victories;

he is faithful to his chosen ruler,

to David and to his descendants forever!”