| 22:1 | *David sang* to the Lord the words of this song when* the Lord rescued him from the power* of all his enemies, including Saul.* |
| 22:2 | He said: “The Lord is my high ridge,* my stronghold,* my deliverer. |
| 22:3 | My 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!* |
| 22:4 | I called* to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,* and I was delivered from my enemies. |
| 22:5 | The waves of death engulfed me; the currents* of chaos* overwhelmed me.* |
| 22:6 | The ropes of Sheol* tightened around me;* the snares of death trapped me.* |
| 22:7 | In 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.* |
| 22:8 | The earth heaved and shook;* the foundations of the sky* trembled.* They heaved because he was angry. |
| 22:9 | Smoke ascended from* his nose;* fire devoured as it came from his mouth;* he hurled down fiery coals.* |
| 22:10 | He made the sky sink* as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet. |
| 22:11 | He mounted* a winged angel* and flew; he glided* on the wings of the wind.* |
| 22:12 | He shrouded himself in darkness,* in thick rain clouds.* |
| 22:13 | From the brightness in front of him came coals of fire.* |
| 22:14 | The Lord thundered* from the sky; the sovereign One* shouted loudly.* |
| 22:15 | He shot* arrows and scattered them,* lightning and routed them.* |
| 22:16 | The 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.* |
| 22:17 | He reached down from above and grabbed me;* he pulled me from the surging water.* |
| 22:18 | He rescued me from my strong enemy,* from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me. |
| 22:19 | They confronted* me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.* |
| 22:20 | He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.* |
| 22:21 | The Lord repaid* me for my godly deeds;* he rewarded* my blameless behavior.* |
| 22:22 | For I have obeyed the Lord’s commands;* I have not rebelled against my God.* |
| 22:23 | For I am aware of all his regulations,* and I do not reject his rules.* |
| 22:24 | I was blameless before him; I kept myself from sinning.* |
| 22:25 | The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds;* he took notice of my blameless behavior.* |
| 22:26 | You prove to be loyal* to one who is faithful;* you prove to be trustworthy* to one who is innocent.* |
| 22:27 | You prove to be reliable* to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive* to one who is perverse.* |
| 22:28 | You deliver oppressed* people, but you watch the proud and bring them down.* |
| 22:29 | Indeed,* you are my lamp,* Lord. The Lord illumines* the darkness around me.* |
| 22:30 | Indeed,*with your help* I can charge* against an army;* by my God’s power* I can jump over a wall.* |
| 22:31 | The 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. |
| 22:32 | Indeed,* who is God besides the Lord? Who is a protector* besides our God?* |
| 22:33 | The one true God* is my mighty refuge;* he removes* the obstacles in my way.* |
| 22:34 | He gives me the agility of a deer;* he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.* |
| 22:35 | He trains* my hands for battle;* my arms can bend even the strongest bow.* |
| 22:36 | You give me* your protective shield;* your willingness to help enables me to prevail.* |
| 22:37 | You widen my path;* my feet* do not slip. |
| 22:38 | I chase my enemies and destroy them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out. |
| 22:39 | I wipe them out and beat them to death; they cannot get up; they fall at my feet. |
| 22:40 | You give me strength for battle;* you make my foes kneel before me.* |
| 22:41 | You make my enemies retreat;* I destroy those who hate me. |
| 22:42 | They cry out,* but there is no one to help them;* they cry out to the Lord,* but he does not answer them. |
| 22:43 | I grind them as fine as the dust of the ground; I crush them and stomp on them like clay* in the streets. |
| 22:44 | You 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.* |
| 22:45 | Foreigners are powerless before me;* when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.* |
| 22:46 | Foreigners lose their courage;* they shake with fear* as they leave* their strongholds.* |
| 22:47 | The Lord is alive!* My protector* is praiseworthy!* The God who delivers me* is exalted as king!* |
| 22:48 | The one true God completely vindicates me;* he makes nations submit to me.* |
| 22:49 | He delivers me from my enemies;* you snatch me away* from those who attack me;* you rescue me from violent men. |
| 22:50 | So I will give you thanks, O Lord, before the nations!* I will sing praises to you.* |
| 22:51 | He gives his chosen king magnificent victories;* he is faithful to his chosen ruler,* to David and to his descendants forever!” |
2 Samuel 22 - NET Bible [draft]
