22:1 David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
22:2 He said: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer
22:3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn [Horn here symbolises strength.] of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour from violent men you save me.
22:4 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
22:5 The waves of death swirled about me the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
22:6 The cords of the grave [Hebrew Sheol] coiled around me the snares of death confronted me.
22:7 In my distress I called to the LORD I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice my cry came to his ears.
22:8 The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens [Hebrew Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:7) mountains] shook they trembled because he was angry.
22:9 Smoke rose from his nostrils consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
22:10 He parted the heavens and came down dark clouds were under his feet.
22:11 He mounted the cherubim and flew he soared [Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also Psalm 18:10) most Hebrew manuscripts appeared] on the wings of the wind.
22:12 He made darkness his canopy around him the dark [Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:11) Hebrew massed] rain clouds of the sky.
22:13 Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth.
22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven the voice of the Most High resounded.
22:15 He shot arrows and scattered the enemies, bolts of lightning and routed them.
22:16 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
22:17 He reached down from on high and took hold of me he drew me out of deep waters.
22:18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
22:19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
22:20 He brought me out into a spacious place he rescued me because he delighted in me.
22:21 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD I have not done evil by turning from my God.
22:23 All his laws are before me I have not turned away from his decrees.
22:24 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
22:25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness [Hebrew Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:24) to the cleanness of my hands] in his sight.
22:26 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
22:27 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
22:28 You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD the LORD turns my darkness into light.
22:30 With your help I can advance against a troop [Or can run through a barricade] with my God I can scale a wall.
22:31 As for God, his way is perfect the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
22:32 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
22:33 It is God who arms me with strength [Dead Sea Scrolls, some Septuagint manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 767 Psalm 18:32) Masoretic Text who is my strong refuge] and makes my way perfect.
22:34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer he enables me to stand on the heights.
22:35 He trains my hands for battle my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
22:36 You give me your shield of victory you stoop down to make me great.
22:37 You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn over.
22:38 I pursued my enemies and crushed them I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
22:39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise they fell beneath my feet.
22:40 You armed me with strength for battle you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
22:41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
22:42 They cried for help, but there was no-one to save them to the LORD, but he did not answer.
22:43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
22:44 You have delivered me from the attacks of my people you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know are subject to me,
22:45 and foreigners come cringing to me as soon as they hear me, they obey me.
22:46 They all lose heart they come trembling [Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:45) Masoretic Text they arm themselves.] from their strongholds.
22:47 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Saviour!
22:48 He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me,
22:49 who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes from violent men you rescued me.
22:50 Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations I will sing praises to your name.
22:51 He gives his king great victories he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.