2 Samuel 22:1-51 VOICE

[1] David composed the following song of praise to the Eternal because He delivered him from all of his enemies and especially from Saul. [2] David: The Eternal is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; [3] He is my True God, my stronghold in whom I take refuge, My strong shield, my horn that calls forth rescue, my tall-walled tower and strong refuge, My savior from violence. [4] I call on the Eternal, who is worthy to be praised, and I have been rescued from my enemies. [5] The waves of death surrounded me; the torrents of terror tugged at me. [6] The sorrows of the grave tightly tangled me; the snares of death met me. [7] In my time of need I called upon the Eternal One; I called to my True God for help. He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came to His ears. [8] Because of His great anger, the earth shook and staggered; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked. [9] Smoke billowed out from His nostrils and devouring fire from His mouth; glowing coals flamed from Him. [10] He bent the heavens and descended; darkness is beneath His feet. [11] He rode upon a heavenly creature, flying; He soared swiftly on the wings of the wind. [12] He placed darkness around Him like a canopy and made His home in dark watery clouds of the sky. [13] Out from His brightness, hailstones and burning coals flared forth. [14] The Eternal thundered in the heavens, the voice of the Most High speaking. [15] He shot forth His arrows and scattered the wicked; He flung forth His lightning and struck them. [16] Then the deepest channels of the seas were revealed; and the foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O Eternal One, at the blast of wind breathed from Your nostrils. [17] He reached down from above me, He held me; He pulled me from the raging waters. [18] He rescued me from my strong enemy and from all those who hated me, for they would have overwhelmed me. [19] When my enemies came for me on the day of my destruction, the Eternal stepped in to support me. [20] He led me out onto a broad plain; He delivered me because of His delight in me. [21] The Eternal One rewarded me because I sought righteousness; He rewarded me because I kept my hands clean. [22] He rewarded me because I kept the ways of the Eternal and have not walked away from my True God in wickedness. [23] For all His laws were there before me, and I did not push His statutes away. [24] I made myself blameless before Him; I kept myself from guilt and shame. [25] That's why the Eternal has rewarded me for seeking righteousness; He's rewarded me because He sees I have remained pure. [26] To the good, You show Your goodness; to the blameless, You prove to be blameless; [27] To the pure, You show Your purity; to the crooked, You make Yourself twisted. [28] For You rescue weak people, but the proud You bring low. [29] You are the lamp who lights my way, O Eternal One, the Eternal, who lights up my darkness. [30] With Your help, I can conquer an army; with Your help, I can vault over walls. [31] God has made an upright way; the promise of the Eternal rings true; He stands and shields all who hide in Him. [32] Who is the True God except the Eternal One? Who stands like a rock except our God? [33] The True God who circled me with strength puts the upright on His way. [34] He made me sure-footed as a deer and placed me high up and safe. [35] He teaches me to fight so that my arms can bend a bronze bow. [36] You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your support has made me strong. [37] You taught me how to walk with care so my feet would not slip. [38] I pursued my enemies and defeated them and did not stop until all were destroyed. [39] When I eliminated them, they fell down beneath my feet so they could not rise again. [40] For You equipped me with strength for battle, and You made my enemies fall beneath me. [41] You made my enemies turn and run, and all who hated me, I destroyed. [42] They looked everywhere, but no one came to save them; they asked the Eternal for help, but He did not answer them. [43] I beat them until they were as small as the dust of the earth; I flung them away and beat them down like mud in the gutters. [44] You delivered me from conflict with the peoples; you raised me up to rule over nations; people whom I did not know came to serve me. [45] Strangers came to me, cringing and afraid; as soon as they heard about me, they obeyed me. [46] Strangers had their courage shrivel before them and came fearfully to me from behind their high walls. [47] The Eternal One is alive! May my Rock be blessed; and the True God, the Rock of my deliverance be exalted, [48] The God who avenged me and tamed the peoples under me, [49] Who rescued me from all my foes. You raised me up above my enemies; You saved me from the violent ones. [50] For this, I will praise You, O Eternal One, among the nations and sing praises to Your name. [51] He is a tower of salvation for His king and shows His loyal love to His anointed, to David and his descendants, continually.