New Living Translation
2 Samuel • Chapter 22
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David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.
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He sang: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;<br>
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my God (Elohim) is my rock, in whom I find protection.<br>He is my shield, the power that saves me,<br>and my place of safety.<br>He is my refuge, my savior,<br>the one who saves me from violence.<br>
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I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise,<br>and he saved me from my enemies.<br>
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“The waves of death overwhelmed me;<br>floods of destruction swept over me.<br>
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The grave wrapped its ropes around me;<br>death laid a trap in my path.<br>
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But in my distress I cried out to the LORD;<br>yes, I cried to my God (Elohim) for help.<br>He heard me from his sanctuary;<br>my cry reached his ears.<br>
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“Then the earth quaked and trembled.<br>The foundations of the heavens shook;<br>they quaked because of his anger.<br>
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Smoke poured from his nostrils;<br>fierce flames leaped from his mouth.<br>Glowing coals blazed forth from him.<br>
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He opened the heavens and came down;<br>dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.<br>
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Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew,<br>soaring on the wings of the wind.<br>
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He shrouded himself in darkness,<br>veiling his approach with dense rain clouds.<br>
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A great brightness shone around him,<br>and burning coals blazed forth.<br>
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The LORD thundered from heaven;<br>the voice of the Most High resounded.<br>
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He shot arrows and scattered his enemies;<br>his lightning flashed, and they were confused.<br>
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Then at the command of the LORD,<br>at the blast of his breath,<br>the bottom of the sea could be seen,<br>and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.<br>
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“He reached down from heaven and rescued me;<br>he drew me out of deep waters.<br>
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He rescued me from my powerful enemies,<br>from those who hated me and were too strong for me.<br>
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They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,<br>but the LORD supported me.<br>
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He led me to a place of safety;<br>he rescued me because he delights in me.<br>
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The LORD rewarded me for doing right;<br>he restored me because of my innocence.<br>
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For I have kept the ways of the LORD;<br>I have not turned from my God (Elohim) to follow evil.<br>
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I have followed all his regulations;<br>I have never abandoned his decrees.<br>
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I am blameless before God (Elohim);<br>I have kept myself from sin.<br>
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The LORD rewarded me for doing right.<br>He has seen my innocence.<br>
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“To the faithful you show yourself faithful;<br>to those with integrity you show integrity.<br>
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To the pure you show yourself pure,<br>but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.<br>
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You rescue the humble,<br>but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.<br>
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O LORD, you are my lamp.<br>The LORD lights up my darkness.<br>
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In your strength I can crush an army;<br>with my God (Elohim) I can scale any wall.<br>
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“God (Elohim)’s way is perfect.<br>All the LORD’s promises prove true.<br>He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.<br>
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For who is God (Elohim) except the LORD?<br>Who but our God (Elohim) is a solid rock?<br>
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God (Elohim) is my strong fortress,<br>and he makes my way perfect.<br>
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He makes me as surefooted as a deer,<br>enabling me to stand on mountain heights.<br>
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He trains my hands for battle;<br>he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.<br>
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You have given me your shield of victory;<br>your help has made me great.<br>
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You have made a wide path for my feet<br>to keep them from slipping.<br>
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“I chased my enemies and destroyed them;<br>I did not stop until they were conquered.<br>
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I consumed them;<br>I struck them down so they did not get up;<br>they fell beneath my feet.<br>
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You have armed me with strength for the battle;<br>you have subdued my enemies under my feet.<br>
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You placed my foot on their necks.<br>I have destroyed all who hated me.<br>
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They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.<br>They even cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer.<br>
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I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;<br>I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.<br>
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“You gave me victory over my accusers.<br>You preserved me as the ruler over nations;<br>people I don’t even know now serve me.<br>
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Foreign nations cringe before me;<br>as soon as they hear of me, they submit.<br>
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They all lose their courage<br>and come trembling from their strongholds.<br>
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“The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock!<br>May God (Elohim), the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!<br>
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He is the God (Elohim) who pays back those who harm me;<br>he brings down the nations under me<br>
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and delivers me from my enemies.<br>You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;<br>you save me from violent opponents.<br>
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For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations;<br>I will sing praises to your name.<br>
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You give great victories to your king;<br>you show unfailing love to your anointed,<br>to David and all his descendants forever.”<br>