22:1   David sang a song to the LORD after the LORD had rescued him from his enemies, especially Saul. These are the words to David's song:

22:2   Our LORD and our God, you are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector.

22:3   You are the rock where I am safe. You are my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter. You rescue me and keep me from being hurt.

22:4   I praise you, our LORD! I prayed to you, and you rescued me from my enemies.

22:5   Death, like ocean waves, surrounded me, and I was almost swallowed by its flooding waters.

22:6   Ropes from the world of the dead had coiled around me, and death had set a trap in my path.

22:7   I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, but from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer.

22:8   Earth shook and shivered! The columns supporting the sky rocked back and forth. You were angry

22:9   and breathed out smoke. Scorching heat and fiery flames spewed from your mouth.

22:10   You opened the heavens like curtains, and you came down with storm clouds under your feet.

22:11   You rode on the backs of flying creatures. You appeared with the wind as wings.

22:12   Darkness was your tent! Thunderclouds filled the sky, hiding you from sight.

22:13   Fiery coals lit up the sky in front of you.

22:14   LORD Most High, your voice thundered from the heavens.

22:15   You scattered your enemies with arrows of lightning.

22:16   You roared at the sea, and its deepest channels could be seen. You snorted, and the earth shook to its foundations.

22:17   You reached down from heaven, and you lifted me from deep in the ocean.

22:18   You rescued me from enemies who were hateful and too powerful for me.

22:19   On the day disaster struck, they came and attacked, but you defended me.

22:20   When I was fenced in, you freed and rescued me because you love me.

22:21   You are good to me, LORD, because I do right, and you reward me because I am innocent.

22:22   I do what you want and never turn to do evil.

22:23   I keep your laws in mind and never turn away from your teachings.

22:24   I obey you completely and guard against sin.

22:25   You have been good to me because I do right; you have rewarded me for being innocent by your standards.

22:26   You are always loyal to your loyal people, and you are faithful to the faithful.

22:27   With all who are sincere you are sincere, but you treat the unfaithful as their deeds deserve.

22:28   You rescue the humble, but you look for ways to put down the proud.

22:29   Our LORD and God, you are my lamp. You turn darkness to light.

22:30   You help me defeat armies and capture cities.

22:31   Your way is perfect, LORD, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help.

22:32   You alone are God! Only you are a mighty rock.

22:33   You are my strong fortress, and you set me free.

22:34   You make my feet run as fast as those of a deer, and you help me stand on the mountains.

22:35   You teach my hands to fight and my arms to use a bow of bronze.

22:36   You alone are my shield, and by coming to help me, you have made me famous.

22:37   You clear the way for me, and now I won't stumble.

22:38   I kept chasing my enemies until I caught them and destroyed them.

22:39   I destroyed them! I stuck my sword through my enemies, and they were crushed under my feet.

22:40   You helped me win victories and forced my attackers to fall victim to me.

22:41   You made my enemies run, and I killed them.

22:42   They cried out for help, but no one saved them; they called out to you, but there was no answer.

22:43   I ground them to dust, and I squashed them like mud in the streets.

22:44   You rescued me from my stubborn people and made me the leader of foreign nations, who are now my slaves.

22:45   They obey and come crawling.

22:46   They have lost all courage and from their fortresses they come trembling.

22:47   You are the living LORD! I will praise you! You are a mighty rock. I will honor you for keeping me safe.

22:48   You took revenge for me, and you put nations in my power.

22:49   You protected me from violent enemies, and you made me much greater than all of them.

22:50   I will praise you, LORD, and I will honor you among the nations.

22:51   You give glorious victories to your chosen king. Your faithful love for David and for his descendants will never end.