2 Samuel 22:1-16

English Standard Version

David's Song of Deliverance

22 And David spoke ^(A)to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. ²^(B)He said,

^(C)“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
³    ^(D)my^[a] God, my rock, ^(E)in whom I take refuge,
^(F)my shield, and ^(G)the horn of my salvation,
    ^(H)my stronghold and ^(I)my refuge,
    my savior; you save me from violence.
⁴I call upon the Lord, who is ^(J)worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.

⁵^(K)“For the waves of death encompassed me,
the torrents of destruction assailed me;^[b]
⁶^(L)the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

⁷^(M)“In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I called.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry ^(N)came to his ears.

⁸“Then ^(O)the earth reeled and rocked;
    ^(P)the foundations of the heavens trembled
    and quaked, because he was angry.
⁹Smoke went up from his nostrils,^[c]
    and devouring fire from his mouth;
    ^(Q)glowing coals flamed forth from him.
¹⁰^(R)He bowed the heavens and ^(S)came down;
    ^(T)thick darkness was under his feet.
¹¹He rode on a cherub and flew;
    he was seen on ^(U)the wings of the wind.
¹²He made ^(V)darkness around him ^(W)his canopy,
    thick clouds, a gathering of water.
¹³Out of the brightness before him
    ^(X)coals of fire flamed forth.
¹⁴^(Y)The Lord thundered from heaven,
    and the Most High uttered his voice.
¹⁵And he sent out ^(Z)arrows and scattered them;
    lightning, and routed them.
¹⁶Then the channels of the sea were seen;
    the foundations of the world were laid bare,
at the rebuke of the Lord,
    at the ^(AA)blast of the breath of his nostrils.