1 David composed the words of this song to the LORD the very day the LORD delivered him from the domination a22:1 Lit. hand of all of his enemies, including from Saul’s hands. ISV — 2Samuel 22:1
2 This is what b22:2 The Heb. lacks This is what he said: LORD, you are c22:2 So LXX. MT reads The LORD is my stone stronghold and my fortified place; you are continuously delivering d22:2 So MT LXX reads rescuing me. ISV — 2Samuel 22:2
3 He is my God, my strong stone— in him I will find my refuge— my shield, the strength e22:3 Lit. horn of my salvation, my high tower, my way of escape, and the one who is saving me. You will save me from violence. ISV — 2Samuel 22:3
4 As I am praising him, f22:4 The Heb. lacks him I will call out to the LORD, and I will be saved from my enemies. ISV — 2Samuel 22:4
5 Because deadly breakers g22:5 Or currents engulfed me, while torrents of abuse h22:5 The Heb. lacks of abuse from the ungodly overwhelmed i22:5 Or terrified me. ISV — 2Samuel 22:5
6 Binding ropes from Sheol entangled me while lethal snares hindered me. ISV — 2Samuel 22:6
7 I cried out to the LORD in the middle of my troubles; I cried out to my God. He listened to my voice from his sanctuary, and my call for help was heard. ISV — 2Samuel 22:7
8 Just then the earth shook and trembled! The foundations of heaven reeled and quaked because the LORD j22:8 Lit. because he was angry. ISV — 2Samuel 22:8
9 Smoke poured out of his nostrils, and fire from his mouth kindling coals to flame by it. ISV — 2Samuel 22:9
10 He deformed heaven itself as he descended. Thick darkness enveloped his feet. ISV — 2Samuel 22:10
11 He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind! ISV — 2Samuel 22:11
12 The darkness around him was his canopies— amassed water was his overhanging clouds! ISV — 2Samuel 22:12
13 From the shining light k22:13 Or the brightness that was his presence l22:13 Or counterpart; MT word is perhaps a word play on the noun shining light coals of fire blazed into flame! ISV — 2Samuel 22:13
14 The LORD roared from heaven! The Most High let his voice be heard! ISV — 2Samuel 22:14
15 He launched his arrows and scattered them— his lightning routed them. ISV — 2Samuel 22:15
16 The currents of the sea were revealed and the foundations of the world were exposed at the rebuke of the LORD and at the blazing breath from his nostrils! ISV — 2Samuel 22:16
17 He sent for me from on high! He grabbed hold of me, drawing me out of deep water. ISV — 2Samuel 22:17
18 He rescued me from my strong enemy— from those who hate me continually, since they were stronger than I. ISV — 2Samuel 22:18
19 They confronted me when I was in trouble, m22:19 Lit. in the day of my calamity but the LORD remained my support! ISV — 2Samuel 22:19
20 He brought me to a wide open area, rescuing me because he was pleased with me! ISV — 2Samuel 22:20
21 The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness, rewarding me according to the degree of my innocence, n22:21 Lit. the cleanness of my hands ISV — 2Samuel 22:21
22 because I have kept the LORD’s way— I haven’t willfully abandoned my God— ISV — 2Samuel 22:22
23 and because all of his decrees remain in my thoughts, o22:23 Lit. presence I have not turned aside from his statutes, ISV — 2Samuel 22:23
24 I have been innocent before him, and I’ve kept myself from incurring p22:24 The Heb. lacks incurring guilt. ISV — 2Samuel 22:24
25 The Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness, that is, according to my clean standing as he q22:25 Lit. standing to the counterpart looks at me. r22:25 Or standing in his eyes ISV — 2Samuel 22:25
26 In the company of the gracious you demonstrate your gracious love. In the company of the blamelessly valiant you demonstrate your blamelessness. ISV — 2Samuel 22:26
27 In the company of the pure you demonstrate your purity. In the company of the perverted you will appear to be perverse. ISV — 2Samuel 22:27
28 You save the nation who is humble but your eyes watch the proud, to bring them down. ISV — 2Samuel 22:28
29 For you are my lamp, LORD, the LORD who illuminates my darkness. ISV — 2Samuel 22:29
30 By you I devastate armies, by my God I scale walls. ISV — 2Samuel 22:30
31 This God! His way is perfect! What the LORD declares proves true. He shields s22:31 Lit. He is a shield for everyone who flees for protection to him! ISV — 2Samuel 22:31
32 For who is God apart from the LORD? And who is a Rock, apart from our God? ISV — 2Samuel 22:32
33 This God is my strong place of valor! He has made my life t22:33 Lit. way blameless. ISV — 2Samuel 22:33
34 He has made my feet like those of a deer, setting me secure on his high places! ISV — 2Samuel 22:34
35 He has trained my hands for battle readiness— I can bend a bow made out of bronze. ISV — 2Samuel 22:35
36 He has equipped me with the shield that is your salvation, Your gentleness u22:36 So MT; LXX reads Obedience to you has made me great. ISV — 2Samuel 22:36
37 You’ve made room beneath me for my footsteps, and my feet didn’t slip. ISV — 2Samuel 22:37
38 I pursued my enemies and conquered them; I didn’t return until they were consumed. ISV — 2Samuel 22:38
39 I devoured them, striking them down until they could not get up again. They fell beneath my feet. ISV — 2Samuel 22:39
40 You strengthened me with valor sufficient for the battle; you made those who rebelled against me fall beneath me. ISV — 2Samuel 22:40
41 You made my enemies turn and run— v22:41 Lit. away their backs to me that is, those who hate me— and I destroyed them! ISV — 2Samuel 22:41
42 They looked around, but there was no one to save w22:42 MT verb looked around sounds like MT verb to save them x22:42 The Heb. lacks them — they looked y22:42 The Heb. lacks they looked to the LORD, but he paid no attention! ISV — 2Samuel 22:42
43 I pulverized them to powder, like the dust of the earth; I crushed them, stomping on them like mud on a street. ISV — 2Samuel 22:43
44 You delivered me from civil war among my own people. You preserved me as head of the nations. People whom I had never known served me! ISV — 2Samuel 22:44
45 Foreigners z22:45 Lit. Children of foreigners came cringing to me; they obeyed as soon as they heard aa22:45 MT verbs obeyed and heard are identical in spelling me. ISV — 2Samuel 22:45
46 Foreigners bb22:46 Lit. Children of foreigners lost their courage, coming trembling from their strongholds. ISV — 2Samuel 22:46
47 The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock, and may my God be exalted, the Rock who is my salvation! ISV — 2Samuel 22:47
48 The God who keeps on avenging me, subjugating people beneath me, ISV — 2Samuel 22:48
49 delivering me from my enemies. You exalted me above those who rebelled against me, delivering me from violent men. ISV — 2Samuel 22:49
50 Because of all of this I will praise you among the nations, LORD, and I will sing praises to your name! ISV — 2Samuel 22:50
51 Great is the salvation he brings to his king, showing gracious love to his anointed, to David and to his offspring cc22:51 Lit. seed; MT is sing. forever. ISV — 2Samuel 22:51