2 Samuel 21-23
New American Standard Bible
Gibeonite’s Revenge
21 Now there was (A)a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and (B)David sought the presence of the Lord. And the Lord said, “It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites, and (C)the sons of Israel had [a]made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to [b]kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah). 3 David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And how can I make amends, so that you will bless (D)the inheritance of the Lord?” 4 Then the Gibeonites said to him, “(E)For us it is not a matter of silver or gold with Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put anyone to death in Israel.” Nevertheless David said, “I will do for you whatever you say.” 5 So they said to the king, “(F)The man who destroyed us and who planned [c]to eliminate us so that we would not exist within any border of Israel— 6 let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will [d]hang them (G)before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, (H)the chosen of the Lord.” And the king said, “I will give them.”
7 But the king spared (I)Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, (J)because of the oath of the Lord which was between them, between David and Saul’s son Jonathan. 8 So the king took the two sons of (K)Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Armoni and Mephibosheth whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of [e](L)Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the (M)Meholathite. 9 Then he handed them over to the Gibeonites, and they [f]hanged them on the mountain before the Lord, so that the seven of them fell together; and they were put to death in the first days of harvest at (N)the beginning of barley harvest.
10 (O)And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until [g]it rained on them from the sky; and (P)she [h]allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day nor the wild animals by night. 11 When it was reported to David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done, 12 then David went and took (Q)the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of (R)Beth-shan, (S)where the Philistines had hanged them on the day (T)the Philistines struck and killed Saul in Gilboa. 13 He brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan, and they gathered the bones of those who had been [i]hanged. 14 Then they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the country of Benjamin in (U)Zela, in the grave of his father Kish; So they did everything that the king commanded, and after that (V)God responded to prayer for the land.
15 Now when (W)the Philistines were at war with Israel again, David went down, and his servants with him; and when they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. 16 Then Ishbi-benob, who was (X)among the descendants of the [j]giant, the weight of whose spear was [k]three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, [l]had strapped on a new sword, and he [m]intended to kill David. 17 But (Y)Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “(Z)You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish (AA)the lamp of Israel.”
18 (AB)Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then (AC)Sibbecai the Hushathite struck and killed Saph, who was among the descendants of the [n]giant. 19 And there was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite [o]killed [p]Goliath the Gittite, (AD)the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 And there was war at Gath again, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born (AE)to the [q]giant. 21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck and killed him. 22 (AF)These four were born to the [r]giant at Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
David’s Psalm of Deliverance
22 (AG)Now David spoke (AH)the words of this song to the Lord on the day that the Lord had saved him from the [s]hand of all his enemies and from the [t]hand of Saul. 2 He said,
“(AI)The Lord is my [u]rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 [v](AJ)My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My (AK)shield and (AL)the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and (AM)my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.
4 I call upon the Lord, (AN)who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.
5 For (AO)the waves of death encompassed me;
(AP)The floods of [w]destruction terrified me;
6 (AQ)The ropes of [x]Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
7 (AR)In my distress I called upon the Lord,
Yes, I called out to my God;
And from His temple He heard my voice,
And my cry for help came into His ears.
8 Then (AS)the earth shook and quaked,
(AT)The foundations of heaven were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
9 Smoke went up [y]out of His nostrils,
(AU)And fire from His mouth was devouring;
(AV)Coals were kindled by it.
10 He also bowed the heavens down low, and came down
With (AW)thick darkness under His feet.
11 (AX)He rode on a cherub and flew;
He [z]appeared on (AY)the wings of the wind.
12 (AZ)He made darkness canopies around Him,
A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky.
13 From the brightness before Him
(BA)Coals of fire were kindled.
14 (BB)The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice.
15 (BC)And He shot arrows and scattered them,
Lightning, and [aa]routed them.
16 Then the channels of the sea appeared,
The foundations of the world were exposed
By the rebuke of the Lord,
(BD)From the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
17 (BE)He sent from on high, He took me;
(BF)He drew me out of many waters.
18 He rescued me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me on the day of my disaster,
(BG)But the Lord was my support.
20 (BH)He also brought me out into an open place;
He rescued me, (BI)because He delighted in me.
21 (BJ)The Lord has treated me in accordance with my righteousness;
(BK)In accordance with the cleanliness of my hands He has repaid me.
22 (BL)For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not acted wickedly against my God.
23 (BM)For all His ordinances were before me,
And as for His statutes, I did not deviate from [ab]them.
24 (BN)I was also [ac]blameless toward Him,
And I have kept myself from my wrongdoing.
25 (BO)So the Lord has repaid me in accordance with my righteousness,
In accordance with my cleanliness before His eyes.
26 (BP)With the one who is faithful You show Yourself faithful,
With the [ad]blameless one You prove Yourself [ae]blameless;
27 (BQ)With the one who is pure You show Yourself pure,
(BR)But with the perverted You [af]show Yourself astute.
28 (BS)And You save an afflicted people;
(BT)But Your eyes are on the haughty whom You humiliate.
29 (BU)For You are my lamp, Lord;
And the Lord illuminates my darkness.
30 (BV)For by You I can run at a [ag]troop of warriors;
By my God I can leap over a wall.
31 (BW)As for God, His way is [ah]blameless;
(BX)The word of the Lord is refined;
(BY)He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32 (BZ)For who is God, except the Lord?
(CA)And who is a rock, except our God?
33 (CB)God is my strong fortress;
And He [ai]sets the [aj]blameless on [ak]His way.
34 (CC)He makes [al]my feet like deer’s feet,
(CD)And sets me on my high places.
35 (CE)He trains my hands for battle,
(CF)So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have also given me (CG)the shield of Your salvation,
And Your [am]help makes me great.
37 (CH)You enlarge my steps under me,
And my [an]feet have not slipped.
38 I pursued my enemies and (CI)eliminated them,
And I did not turn back until they were finished off.
39 And I have devoured them and smashed them, so that they would not rise;
And (CJ)they fell under my feet.
40 For You have encircled me with strength for battle;
You have forced (CK)those who rose up against me to bow down under me.
41 You have also (CL)made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I [ao]destroyed those who hated me.
42 (CM)They looked, but there was no one to save them;
(CN)Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43 (CO)Then I pulverized them as the dust of the earth;
(CP)I crushed and trampled them like the mud of the streets.
44 (CQ)You have also saved me from the contentions of my people;
(CR)You have kept me as head of the nations;
(CS)A people I have not known serve me.
45 (CT)Foreigners pretend to obey me;
As soon as they hear, they obey me.
46 Foreigners lose heart,
(CU)And [ap]come trembling out of their fortresses.
47 The Lord lives, and blessed be my Rock;
And exalted be [aq](CV)my God, the rock of my salvation,
48 (CW)The God who executes vengeance for me,
(CX)And brings down peoples under me,
49 Who also brings me out from my enemies;
You also raise me above (CY)those who rise up against me;
(CZ)You rescue me from the violent person.
50 (DA)Therefore I will [ar]give thanks to You, Lord, among the nations,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
51 (DB)He is a tower of [as]salvation to His king,
And (DC)shows favor to His anointed,
(DD)To David and his [at]descendants forever.”
David’s Last Song
23 Now these are the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse declares,
(DE)The man who was raised on high,
(DF)The anointed of the God of Jacob
And the sweet psalmist of Israel, declares,
2 “(DG)The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said it;
(DH)The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
‘(DI)He who rules over mankind righteously,
(DJ)Who rules in the fear of God,
4 (DK)Is like the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the fresh grass springs out of the earth
From sunshine after rain.’
5 Is my house not indeed so with God?
For (DL)He has made an everlasting covenant with me,
Properly ordered in all things, and secured;
For will He not indeed make
All my salvation and all my delight grow?
6 (DM)But the worthless, every one of them, are like scattered thorns,
Because they cannot be taken in hand;
7 Instead, the man who touches them
Must be [au]armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,
And (DN)they will be completely burned with fire in their [av]place.”
David’s Mighty Men
8 (DO)These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the [aw]captains; he was called Adino the Eznite because of eight hundred who were killed by him at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of (DP)Dodo the (DQ)Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had [ax]withdrawn. 10 (DR)He rose up and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and [ay]it clung to the sword, and (DS)the Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder the dead.
11 Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee, a (DT)Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered [az]into an army where there was a plot of land full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it, and struck the Philistines; and (DU)the Lord brought about a great victory.
13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time to the (DV)cave of Adullam, while the army of the Philistines was camping in (DW)the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then (DX)in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And (DY)David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” 16 (DZ)So the three mighty men forced their way into the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and carried it and brought it to David. Yet he would not drink it, but (EA)poured it out as an offering to the Lord; 17 and he said, “Far be it from me, Lord, that I would do this! (EB)Should I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
18 Now (EC)Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was (ED)chief of the [ba]thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred [bb]and killed them, and had a name [bc]as well as the three. 19 He was the most honored among the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the reputation of the three.
20 Then (EE)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of (EF)Kabzeel, who had done great deeds, [bd]killed the [be]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he [bf]killed an Egyptian, [bg]an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things (EG)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name [bh]as well as the three mighty men. 23 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain the reputation of the three. And David appointed him over his bodyguard.
24 (EH)Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty; and there was Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 (EI)Shammah the (EJ)Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the (EK)Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the (EL)Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the (EM)Netophathite, 29 (EN)Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of (EO)Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a (EP)Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of (EQ)Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the (ER)Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the (ES)Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 (ET)Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of (EU)the Maacathite, (EV)Eliam the son of (EW)Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 (EX)Hezro the (EY)Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of (EZ)Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the (FA)Beerothite, armor bearers of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 38 Ira the (FB)Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 and (FC)Uriah the Hittite; thirty-seven in all.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 21:2 Lit sworn to
- 2 Samuel 21:2 Lit strike
- 2 Samuel 21:5 Lit against us that we are eliminated from
- 2 Samuel 21:6 Or expose them
- 2 Samuel 21:8 As in some ancient versions and two Heb mss; MT Michal
- 2 Samuel 21:9 Or exposed them
- 2 Samuel 21:10 Lit water gushed forth
- 2 Samuel 21:10 Lit gave
- 2 Samuel 21:13 Or exposed
- 2 Samuel 21:16 Heb Raphah
- 2 Samuel 21:16 About 9 lb. or 4 kg
- 2 Samuel 21:16 Lit and he had strapped
- 2 Samuel 21:16 Lit said
- 2 Samuel 21:18 Heb Raphah
- 2 Samuel 21:19 Lit struck
- 2 Samuel 21:19 In 1 Chr 20:5, Lahmi, the brother of Goliath
- 2 Samuel 21:20 Heb Raphah
- 2 Samuel 21:22 Heb Raphah
- 2 Samuel 22:1 Lit palm
- 2 Samuel 22:1 Lit palm
- 2 Samuel 22:2 Lit crag
- 2 Samuel 22:3 As in LXX; MT God of my rock
- 2 Samuel 22:5 Or wickedness; Heb Belial
- 2 Samuel 22:6 I.e., the netherworld
- 2 Samuel 22:9 I.e., in his anger
- 2 Samuel 22:11 Many mss glided
- 2 Samuel 22:15 Lit confused
- 2 Samuel 22:23 Lit it
- 2 Samuel 22:24 Lit complete; or having integrity
- 2 Samuel 22:26 Lit complete; or having integrity
- 2 Samuel 22:26 Lit complete; or having integrity
- 2 Samuel 22:27 As in two Heb mss and Ps 18:26; MT pretend stupidity
- 2 Samuel 22:30 Or wall
- 2 Samuel 22:31 Lit complete; or having integrity
- 2 Samuel 22:33 Or sets free
- 2 Samuel 22:33 Lit complete; or having integrity
- 2 Samuel 22:33 Another reading is my
- 2 Samuel 22:34 Another reading is His
- 2 Samuel 22:36 Lit answering
- 2 Samuel 22:37 Lit ankles
- 2 Samuel 22:41 Or silenced
- 2 Samuel 22:46 Reading based on Ps 18:45; MT belt up themselves
- 2 Samuel 22:47 As in LXX; MT the God of the rock
- 2 Samuel 22:50 Or praise
- 2 Samuel 22:51 Lit acts of salvation
- 2 Samuel 22:51 Lit seed
- 2 Samuel 23:7 Lit filled
- 2 Samuel 23:7 Lit sitting
- 2 Samuel 23:8 Or three
- 2 Samuel 23:9 Lit gone up
- 2 Samuel 23:10 Lit his hand
- 2 Samuel 23:11 Or possibly, at Lehi
- 2 Samuel 23:18 As in two Heb mss and Syriac; MT three
- 2 Samuel 23:18 Lit slain ones
- 2 Samuel 23:18 Lit among the
- 2 Samuel 23:20 Lit struck
- 2 Samuel 23:20 Or two warriors of Moab
- 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit struck
- 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit a man of appearance
- 2 Samuel 23:22 Lit among the
2 Samuel 21-23
New King James Version
David Avenges the Gibeonites
21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David (A)inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his [a]bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but (B)of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them (C)in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.
3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless (D)the inheritance of the Lord?”
4 And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.”
So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
5 Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, 6 let seven men of his descendants be delivered (E)to us, and we will hang them before the Lord (F)in Gibeah of Saul, (G)whom the Lord chose.”
And the king said, “I will give them.”
7 But the king spared (H)Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of (I)the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of (J)Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of [b]Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she [c]brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; 9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill (K)before the Lord. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
10 Now (L)Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, (M)from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.
11 And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of (N)Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of [d]Beth Shan, where the (O)Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa. 13 So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in (P)Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that (Q)God heeded the prayer for the land.
Philistine Giants Destroyed(R)
15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of [e]the (S)giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17 But (T)Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, (U)“You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the (V)lamp of Israel.”
18 (W)Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then (X)Sibbechai the Hushathite killed [f]Saph, who was one of the sons of [g]the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where (Y)Elhanan the son of [h]Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed (Z)the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 Yet again (AA)there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to [i]the giant. 21 So when he (AB)defied Israel, Jonathan the son of [j]Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
22 (AC)These four were born to [k]the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Praise for God’s Deliverance(AD)
22 Then David (AE)spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had (AF)delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 And he (AG)said:
(AH)“The Lord is my rock and my (AI)fortress and my deliverer;
3 The God of my strength, (AJ)in whom I will trust;
My (AK)shield and the (AL)horn[l] of my salvation,
My (AM)stronghold and my (AN)refuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
4 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
5 “When the waves of death surrounded me,
The floods of ungodliness [m]made me afraid.
6 The (AO)sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
7 In my distress (AP)I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He (AQ)heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry entered His ears.
8 “Then (AR)the earth shook and trembled;
(AS)The foundations of [n]heaven quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
9 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring (AT)fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
10 He (AU)bowed the heavens also, and came down
With (AV)darkness under His feet.
11 He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
And He [o]was seen (AW)upon the wings of the wind.
12 He made (AX)darkness canopies around Him,
Dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
13 From the brightness before Him
Coals of fire were kindled.
14 “The Lord (AY)thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice.
15 He sent out (AZ)arrows and scattered them;
Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.
16 Then the channels of the sea (BA)were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered,
At the (BB)rebuke of the Lord,
At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
17 “He(BC) sent from above, He took me,
He drew me out of many waters.
18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me;
For they were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my (BD)support.
20 (BE)He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He (BF)delighted in me.
21 “The(BG) Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the (BH)cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
22 For I have (BI)kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 For all His (BJ)judgments were before me;
And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.
24 I was also (BK)blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
25 Therefore (BL)the Lord has [p]recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to [q]my cleanness in His eyes.
26 “With (BM)the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
27 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And (BN)with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
28 You will save the (BO)humble[r] people;
But Your eyes are on (BP)the haughty, that You may bring them down.
29 “For You are my (BQ)lamp, O Lord;
The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.
30 For by You I can run against a troop;
By my God I can leap over a (BR)wall.
31 As for God, (BS)His way is perfect;
(BT)The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
32 “For (BU)who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
33 [s]God is my (BV)strength and power,
And He (BW)makes [t]my way (BX)perfect.
34 He makes [u]my feet (BY)like the feet of deer,
And (BZ)sets me on my high places.
35 He teaches my hands [v]to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your gentleness has made me great.
37 You (CA)enlarged my path under me;
So my feet did not slip.
38 “I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
39 And I have destroyed them and wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen (CB)under my feet.
40 For You have (CC)armed me with strength for the battle;
You have [w]subdued under me (CD)those who rose against me.
41 You have also [x]given me the (CE)necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
42 They looked, but there was none to save;
Even (CF)to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43 Then I beat them as fine (CG)as the dust of the earth;
I trod them (CH)like dirt in the streets,
And I [y]spread them out.
44 “You(CI) have also delivered me from the [z]strivings of my people;
You have kept me as the (CJ)head of the nations.
(CK)A people I have not known shall serve me.
45 The foreigners submit to me;
As soon as they hear, they obey me.
46 The foreigners fade away,
And [aa]come frightened (CL)from their hideouts.
47 “The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let God be exalted,
The (CM)Rock of my salvation!
48 It is God who avenges me,
And (CN)subdues the peoples under me;
49 He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the (CO)violent man.
50 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among (CP)the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your (CQ)name.
51 “He(CR) is the tower of salvation to His king,
And shows mercy to His (CS)anointed,
To David and (CT)his descendants forevermore.”
David’s Last Words
23 Now these are the last words of David.
Thus says David the son of Jesse;
Thus says (CU)the man raised up on high,
(CV)The anointed of the God of Jacob,
And the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2 “The(CW) Spirit of the Lord spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said,
(CX)The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
‘He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling (CY)in the fear of God.
4 And (CZ)he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,
By clear shining after rain.’
5 “Although my house is not so with God,
(DA)Yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant,
Ordered in all things and secure.
For this is all my salvation and all my desire;
Will He not make it increase?
6 But the sons of rebellion shall all be as thorns thrust away,
Because they cannot be taken with hands.
7 But the man who touches them
Must be [ab]armed with iron and the shaft of a spear,
And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.”
David’s Mighty Men(DB)
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: [ac]Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among [ad]the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. 9 And after him was (DC)Eleazar the son of [ae]Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was (DD)weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to (DE)plunder. 11 And after him was (DF)Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. (DG)The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
13 Then (DH)three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at (DI)the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in (DJ)the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in (DK)the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not (DL)the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it.
These things were done by the three mighty men.
18 Now (DM)Abishai the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of [af]another three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. 19 Was he not the most honored of three? Therefore he became their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.
20 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from (DN)Kabzeel, [ag]who had done many deeds. (DO)He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 21 And he killed an Egyptian, [ah]a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him (DP)over his guard.
24 (DQ)Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 25 (DR)Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah (the Netophathite), Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of (DS)Gaash, 31 Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite (of the sons of Jashen), Jonathan, 33 (DT)Shammah the [ai]Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of (DU)Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 [aj]Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the son of Nathan of (DV)Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), 38 (DW)Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 39 and (DX)Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 21:1 Lit. house of bloodshed
- 2 Samuel 21:8 Merab, 1 Sam. 18:19; 25:44; 2 Sam. 3:14; 6:23
- 2 Samuel 21:8 Lit. bore to Adriel
- 2 Samuel 21:12 Beth Shean, Josh. 17:11
- 2 Samuel 21:16 Or Rapha
- 2 Samuel 21:18 Sippai, 1 Chr. 20:4
- 2 Samuel 21:18 Or Rapha
- 2 Samuel 21:19 Jair, 1 Chr. 20:5
- 2 Samuel 21:20 Or Rapha
- 2 Samuel 21:21 Shammah, 1 Sam. 16:9 and elsewhere
- 2 Samuel 21:22 Or Rapha
- 2 Samuel 22:3 Strength
- 2 Samuel 22:5 Or overwhelmed
- 2 Samuel 22:8 So with MT, LXX, Tg.; Syr., Vg. hills (cf. Ps. 18:7)
- 2 Samuel 22:11 So with MT, LXX; many Heb. mss., Syr., Vg. flew (cf. Ps. 18:10); Tg. spoke with power
- 2 Samuel 22:25 rewarded
- 2 Samuel 22:25 LXX, Syr., Vg. the cleanness of my hands in His sight (cf. Ps. 18:24); Tg. my cleanness before His word
- 2 Samuel 22:28 afflicted
- 2 Samuel 22:33 DSS, LXX, Syr., Vg. It is God who arms me with strength (cf. Ps. 18:32); Tg. It is God who sustains me with strength
- 2 Samuel 22:33 So with Qr., LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. (cf. Ps. 18:32); Kt. His
- 2 Samuel 22:34 So with Qr., LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. (cf. Ps. 18:33); Kt. His
- 2 Samuel 22:35 Lit. for the war
- 2 Samuel 22:40 Lit. caused to bow down
- 2 Samuel 22:41 given me victory over
- 2 Samuel 22:43 scattered
- 2 Samuel 22:44 contentions
- 2 Samuel 22:46 So with LXX, Tg., Vg. (cf. Ps. 18:45); MT gird themselves
- 2 Samuel 23:7 Lit. filled
- 2 Samuel 23:8 Lit. One Who Sits in the Seat (1 Chr. 11:11)
- 2 Samuel 23:8 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Vg. the three
- 2 Samuel 23:9 Dodai, 1 Chr. 27:4
- 2 Samuel 23:18 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; some Heb. mss., Syr. thirty; Tg. the mighty men
- 2 Samuel 23:20 Lit. great of acts
- 2 Samuel 23:21 Lit. a man of appearance
- 2 Samuel 23:33 Or Ararite
- 2 Samuel 23:35 Hezro, 1 Chr. 11:37
Romans 3
New American Standard Bible
All the World Guilty
3 Then what [a]advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First, that (A)they were entrusted with the (B)actual words of God. 3 What then? If (C)some [b]did not believe, their [c]unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 [d](D)Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found (E)a liar, as it is written:
5 But if our unrighteousness [f](G)demonstrates the righteousness of God, (H)what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? ((I)I am speaking from a human viewpoint.) 6 (J)Far from it! For otherwise, how will (K)God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie (L)the truth of God abounded to His glory, (M)why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say (just as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “(N)Let’s do evil that good may come of it”? [g]Their condemnation is deserved.
9 What then? [h](O)Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both (P)Jews and (Q)Greeks are (R)all under sin; 10 as it is written:
“(S)There is no righteous person, not even one;
11 There is no one who understands,
There is no one who seeks out God;
12 They have all turned aside, together they have become [i]corrupt;
There is no one who does good,
There is not even one.”
13 “(T)Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“(U)The venom of [j]asps is under their lips”;
14 “(V)Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;
15 “(W)Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths,
17 And they have not known the way of peace.”
18 “(X)There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the (Y)Law says, it speaks to (Z)those who are [k]under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and (AA)all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because (AB)by the works [l]of the Law [m]none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for [n](AC)through the Law comes [o]knowledge of sin.
Justification by Faith
21 But now apart [p]from the Law (AD)the righteousness of God has been revealed, being (AE)witnessed by the [q]Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the (AF)righteousness of God through (AG)faith (AH)in Jesus Christ for (AI)all those [r]who believe; for (AJ)there is no distinction, 23 for all [s](AK)have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift (AL)by His grace through (AM)the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as (AN)a [t]propitiation [u](AO)in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, [v]because in God’s merciful (AP)restraint He (AQ)let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26 for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who [w]has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is (AR)boasting? It has been excluded. By (AS)what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 [x]For (AT)we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works [y]of the Law. 29 Or (AU)is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed (AV)God (AW)who will justify the [z]circumcised [aa]by faith and the [ab]uncircumcised through faith (AX)is one.
31 Do we then nullify [ac]the Law through faith? (AY)Far from it! On the contrary, we (AZ)establish the Law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:1 Lit is the advantage of the Jew
- Romans 3:3 Or were unfaithful
- Romans 3:3 Or unfaithfulness
- Romans 3:4 Lit May it never happen! And so throughout the ch
- Romans 3:4 Or in Your judging
- Romans 3:5 I.e., by requiring His judgment
- Romans 3:8 Lit Whose
- Romans 3:9 Or Are we worse
- Romans 3:12 Or depraved
- Romans 3:13 I.e., venomous snakes
- Romans 3:19 Lit in
- Romans 3:20 Or of law
- Romans 3:20 Lit no flesh
- Romans 3:20 Or through law
- Romans 3:20 Or recognition
- Romans 3:21 Or from law
- Romans 3:21 I.e., the Old Testament
- Romans 3:22 Or who believe. For there is
- Romans 3:23 Or sinned
- Romans 3:25 I.e., a means of reconciliation between God and mankind by paying the penalty for sin
- Romans 3:25 Or by
- Romans 3:25 Lit because of the passing over of the sins previously committed, in the restraint of God
- Romans 3:26 Lit is of the faith of Jesus
- Romans 3:28 One early ms Therefore
- Romans 3:28 Or of law
- Romans 3:30 Lit circumcision
- Romans 3:30 Lit out of
- Romans 3:30 Lit uncircumcision
- Romans 3:31 Or law
Romans 3
New King James Version
God’s Judgment Defended
3 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because (A)to them were committed the [a]oracles of God. 3 For what if (B)some did not believe? (C)Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 (D)Certainly not! Indeed, let (E)God be [b]true but (F)every man a liar. As it is written:
(G)“That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (H)(I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then (I)how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, (J)“Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their [c]condemnation is just.
All Have Sinned(K)
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that (L)they are all under sin.
10 As it is written:
(M)“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13 “Their(N) throat is an open [d]tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
(O)“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose(P) mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their(Q) feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There(R) is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever (S)the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that (T)every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become [e]guilty before God. 20 Therefore (U)by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
God’s Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now (V)the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, (W)being witnessed by the Law (X)and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all [f]and on all who believe. For (Y)there is no difference; 23 for (Z)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified [g]freely (AA)by His grace (AB)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth (AC)as a [h]propitiation (AD)by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over (AE)the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Boasting Excluded
27 (AF)Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude (AG)that a man is [i]justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since (AH)there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Footnotes
- Romans 3:2 sayings, Scriptures
- Romans 3:4 Found true
- Romans 3:8 Lit. judgment
- Romans 3:13 grave
- Romans 3:19 accountable
- Romans 3:22 NU omits and on all
- Romans 3:24 without any cost
- Romans 3:25 mercy seat
- Romans 3:28 declared righteous
Psalm 18
New American Standard Bible
The Lord Praised for Rescuing David.
For the music director. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, [a]who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,
18 “I love You, Lord, (A)my strength.”
2 The Lord is (B)my rock and (C)my fortress and my (D)savior,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My (E)shield and the (F)horn of my salvation, my (G)stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is (H)worthy to be praised,
And I am (I)saved from my enemies.
4 The (J)ropes of death encompassed me,
And the (K)torrents of [b]destruction [c]terrified me.
5 The (L)ropes of [d]Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my (M)distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice (N)from His temple,
And my (O)cry for help before Him came into His ears.
7 Then the (P)earth shook and quaked;
And the (Q)foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up [e]out of His nostrils,
And (R)fire from His mouth was devouring;
Coals burned from it.
9 He also (S)bowed the heavens down low, and came down
With thick (T)darkness under His feet.
10 He rode on a (U)cherub and flew;
And He sped on the (V)wings of the wind.
11 He made (W)darkness His hiding place, (X)His [f]canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds.
12 From the (Y)brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and (Z)coals of fire.
13 The Lord also (AA)thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He (AB)sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and [g]routed them.
15 Then the (AC)channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were exposed
By Your (AD)rebuke, Lord,
At the blast of the (AE)breath of Your nostrils.
16 He (AF)sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of (AG)many waters.
17 He (AH)saved me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were (AI)too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in (AJ)the day of my disaster,
But (AK)the Lord was my support.
19 He also brought me out into an (AL)open place;
He rescued me, because (AM)He delighted in me.
20 The Lord has (AN)rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the (AO)cleanness of my hands He has repaid me.
21 For I have (AP)kept the ways of the Lord,
And have (AQ)not acted wickedly against my God.
22 For all (AR)His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His (AS)statutes from me.
23 I was also [h](AT)blameless with Him,
And I (AU)kept myself from my wrongdoing.
24 Therefore the Lord has (AV)repaid me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.
25 With (AW)the faithful You show Yourself faithful;
With the [i]blameless (AX)You prove Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You show Yourself (AY)pure,
And with the crooked (AZ)You show Yourself [j]astute.
27 For You (BA)save an afflicted people,
But You humiliate (BB)haughty eyes.
28 For You (BC)light my lamp;
The Lord my God (BD)illumines my darkness.
29 For by You I can (BE)run at a [k]troop of warriors;
And by my God I can (BF)leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is [l](BG)blameless;
The (BH)word of the Lord is refined;
He is a (BI)shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31 For (BJ)who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a (BK)rock, except our God,
32 The God who (BL)encircles me with strength,
And [m]makes my way [n](BM)blameless?
33 He (BN)makes my feet like deer’s feet,
And (BO)sets me up on my high places.
34 He (BP)trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can (BQ)bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have also given me (BR)the shield of Your salvation,
And Your (BS)right hand upholds me;
And (BT)Your [o]gentleness makes me great.
36 You (BU)enlarge my steps under me,
And my [p](BV)feet have not slipped.
37 I (BW)pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back (BX)until they were consumed.
38 I shattered them, so that they were (BY)not able to rise;
They fell (BZ)under my feet.
39 For You have (CA)encircled me with strength for battle;
You have forced those who rose up against me (CB)to bow down under me.
40 You have also made my enemies (CC)turn their backs to me,
And I [q](CD)destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried for help, but there was (CE)no one to save,
They cried to the Lord, but (CF)He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them fine like the (CG)dust before the wind;
I emptied them out like the mud of the streets.
43 You have rescued me from the (CH)contentions of the people;
You have placed me as (CI)head of the nations;
A (CJ)people whom I have not known serve me.
44 As soon as they hear, they obey me;
Foreigners (CK)pretend to obey me.
45 Foreigners (CL)lose heart,
And (CM)come trembling out of their [r]fortresses.
46 The Lord (CN)lives, and blessed be (CO)my rock;
And exalted be (CP)the God of my salvation,
47 The God who (CQ)executes vengeance for me,
And (CR)subdues peoples under me.
48 He (CS)rescues me from my enemies;
You indeed (CT)lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from a (CU)violent man.
49 Therefore I will (CV)give thanks to You among the nations, Lord,
And I will (CW)sing praises to Your name.
50 He gives great [s](CX)salvation to His king,
And shows faithfulness to (CY)His anointed,
To David and (CZ)his [t]descendants forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 18 Title 2 Sam 22:1-51
- Psalm 18:4 Or ungodliness; Heb Belial
- Psalm 18:4 Or were assailing; or terrifying
- Psalm 18:5 I.e., the netherworld
- Psalm 18:8 Or in His wrath
- Psalm 18:11 Or pavilion
- Psalm 18:14 Lit confused
- Psalm 18:23 Lit complete; or having integrity; or perfect
- Psalm 18:25 See note v 23
- Psalm 18:26 Lit twisted
- Psalm 18:29 Or wall
- Psalm 18:30 Or perfect
- Psalm 18:32 Or has made
- Psalm 18:32 Lit complete; or having integrity
- Psalm 18:35 Or condescension
- Psalm 18:36 Lit ankles
- Psalm 18:40 Or silenced
- Psalm 18:45 Or prisons
- Psalm 18:50 I.e., victories; lit salvations
- Psalm 18:50 Lit seed
Psalm 18
New King James Version
God the Sovereign Savior(A)
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David (B)the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of (C)this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:
18 I (D)will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my [a]strength, (E)in whom I will trust;
My shield and the [b]horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the Lord, (F)who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
4 (G)The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of [c]ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
7 (H)Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 (I)He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10 (J)And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
(K)He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place;
(L)His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12 (M)From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered (N)His voice,
[d]Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 (O)He sent out His arrows and scattered [e]the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16 (P)He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
19 (Q)He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.
20 (R)The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23 I was also blameless [f]before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 (S)Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
25 (T)With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And (U)with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down (V)haughty looks.
28 (W)For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can [g]run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, (X)His way is perfect;
(Y)The word of the Lord is [h]proven;
He is a shield (Z)to all who trust in Him.
31 (AA)For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32 It is God who (AB)arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33 (AC)He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And (AD)sets me on my high places.
34 (AE)He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me,
(AF)So my feet did not slip.
37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have [i]subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
(AG)Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I (AH)cast them out like dirt in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
(AI)You have made me the head of the [j]nations;
(AJ)A people I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners [k]submit to me.
45 (AK)The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.
46 The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me,
(AL)And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies.
(AM)You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 (AN)Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the [l]Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.
50 (AO)Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his [m]descendants forevermore.
Footnotes
- Psalm 18:2 Lit. rock
- Psalm 18:2 Strength
- Psalm 18:4 Lit. Belial
- Psalm 18:13 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; a few Heb. mss., LXX omit Hailstones and coals of fire
- Psalm 18:14 Lit. them
- Psalm 18:23 with
- Psalm 18:29 Or run through
- Psalm 18:30 Lit. refined
- Psalm 18:39 Lit. caused to bow
- Psalm 18:43 Gentiles
- Psalm 18:44 feign submission
- Psalm 18:49 nations
- Psalm 18:50 Lit. seed
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
