大卫的颂歌

22 耶和华从扫罗和所有仇敌手中拯救大卫那天,他向耶和华吟唱此诗:

“耶和华是我的磐石,
我的堡垒,我的拯救者;
我的上帝是保护我的磐石,
是我的盾牌,是拯救我的力量,
是我的堡垒,我的避难所,
我的救主。
你救我脱离残暴之徒。
我求告当受颂赞的耶和华,
祂就从仇敌手中把我救出。

“死亡的波涛环绕我,
罪恶的狂流淹没我。
阴间的绳索捆绑我,
死亡的网罗笼罩我。

“我在苦难中呼求耶和华,
向我的上帝求助,
祂从殿中垂听我的呼求,
我的声音达到祂耳中。

“祂一发怒,大地震动,
穹苍的根基摇晃。
祂的鼻孔冒烟,
口喷烈焰和火炭。
10 祂拨开云天,
脚踩密云,亲自降临。
11 祂乘着基路伯天使飞翔,
在风的翅膀上显现。
12 祂藏身于黑暗中,
四围以密云作幔幕。
13 祂面前的荣光中发出道道闪电。
14 耶和华在天上打雷,
至高者发出声音。
15 祂射出利箭驱散仇敌,
发出闪电击溃他们。
16 耶和华斥责一声,
祂的鼻孔一吹气,
海底就显现,
大地也露出根基。

17 “祂从高天伸手抓住我,
从深渊中把我拉上来。
18 祂救我脱离强敌,
脱离我无法战胜的仇敌。
19 他们在我危难之时攻击我,
但耶和华扶持我。
20 祂领我到宽阔之地;
祂拯救我,因为祂喜悦我。

21 “耶和华因我公义而善待我,
因我清白而赏赐我。
22 因为我坚守祂的道,
没有作恶背弃我的上帝。

23 “我遵守祂一切的法令,
没有把祂的律例弃置一旁。
24 我在祂面前纯全无过,
没有沾染罪恶。
25 耶和华因我公义、
在祂面前清白而奖赏我。

26 “仁慈的人,你以仁慈待他;
纯全的人,你以纯全待他。
27 纯洁的人,你以纯洁待他;
心术不正的人,你以计谋待他。
28 你搭救谦卑的人,
鉴察、贬抑高傲的人。
29 耶和华啊!你是我的明灯,
你使我的黑暗变为光明。
30 我依靠你的力量迎战敌军,
靠着我的上帝跃过墙垣。

31 “上帝的道完美,
耶和华的话纯全,
祂是投靠祂之人的盾牌。
32 除了耶和华,谁是上帝呢?
除了我们的上帝,谁是磐石呢?
33 上帝是我的坚固堡垒,
祂使我行为纯全。
34 祂使我的脚如母鹿的蹄,
稳踏在高处。
35 祂训练我的手怎样作战,
使我的手臂能拉开铜弓。
36 你是拯救我的盾牌,
你的垂顾使我强大。
37 你使我脚下的道路宽阔,
不致滑倒。
38 我追赶仇敌,击溃他们,
不消灭他们决不回头。
39 我打垮他们,
使他们倒在我的脚下,
再也站不起来。
40 你赐我征战的能力,
使我的仇敌降服在我脚下。
41 你使我的仇敌狼狈而逃,
我歼灭了恨我的人。
42 他们求助,却无人搭救。
他们呼求耶和华,祂也不应允。
43 我把他们打得粉碎,
如同地上的灰尘,践踏他们,
就像践踏街上的泥土。
44 你救我脱离我百姓的攻击,
让我成为列国的元首,
素不相识的民族也归顺我。
45 外族人望风而降,俯首称臣。
46 他们闻风丧胆,
战战兢兢地走出他们的城池。

47 “耶和华永远活着,
保护我的磐石当受颂赞,
拯救我的上帝当受尊崇。
48 祂是为我申冤的上帝,
祂使列邦臣服于我。
49 祂救我脱离仇敌,
使我胜过强敌,
救我脱离残暴之徒。
50 因此,耶和华啊,
我要在列邦中赞美你,
歌颂你的名。
51 你使你立的王大获全胜,
向你膏立的王,
就是大卫和他的后代广施慈爱,
直到永远。”

David’s Song of Praise(A)

22 David sang [L the words of] this song [C see the close parallel to the following song in Psalm 18] to the Lord when the Lord ·saved [rescued; T delivered] him from Saul and all his other enemies. He said:

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my ·Savior [rescuer; T deliverer].
My God is my rock.
    ·I can run to him for safety [L In whom I find protection/take refuge].
He is my shield and ·my saving strength [L the horn of my salvation; C symbolizes strength based on an animal lifting its head triumphantly],
    my ·defender [stronghold] and my ·place of safety [refuge].
    The Lord saves me from ·those who want to harm me [L violence].
I ·will call to [call upon] the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and I ·will be [or am] saved from my enemies.

“The waves of death ·came around [swirled about; encompassed] me;
    the ·deadly rivers [floods/torrents of destruction] overwhelmed me.
The ·ropes of death [cords of the grave/Sheol] ·wrapped around [entangled; coiled around] me.
    The ·traps [snares] of death ·were before [confronted; lay ahead of] me.
In my ·trouble [distress; anguish] I ·called [cried out] to the Lord;
    I ·cried out [called] to my God.
From his ·temple [sanctuary] he heard my voice;
    my ·call for help [cry] reached his ears.

“The earth ·trembled [reeled; quaked] and ·shook [rocked].
    The foundations of heaven began to ·shake [shudder].
    They ·trembled [reeled; quaked] because the Lord was angry.
Smoke ·came out of his nose [poured/rose from his nostrils],
    and ·burning [devouring] fire came out of his mouth.
    Burning coals ·went before [blazed/flamed out from] him.
10 He ·tore open [parted; bowed] the ·sky [heavens] and came down
    with ·dark clouds [storm clouds; thick darkness] under his feet.
11 He rode a ·creature with wings [cherub; C a mighty spiritual being/angel; Ezek. 1] and flew.
    ·He raced […soaring] on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his ·shelter [canopy, shroud]
    surrounded by ·fog and [thick rain] clouds.
13 Out of the brightness ·of his presence [before him]
    ·came [blazed; flamed] ·flashes of lightning [L fiery coals].
14 The Lord thundered from heaven;
    the ·Most High raised his voice [voice of the Most High resounded].
15 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies.
    His bolts of lightning ·confused them with fear [routed them].
16 ·The wind blew from his nose [L At the blast of breath from his nostrils…] when he spoke.
Then the ·valleys [floor; channels] of the sea ·appeared [were exposed],
and the foundations of the earth were ·seen [laid bare].

17 “The Lord reached down from ·above [heaven; on high] and ·took [rescued] me;
    he ·pulled me from the deep water [drew me out of mighty waters].
18 He ·saved [rescued; T delivered] me from my powerful enemies,
    from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.
19 They ·attacked [confronted] me ·at my time of trouble [L in the day of my distress/calamity/disaster],
    but the Lord ·supported me [was my stay].
20 He took me to a ·safe [spacious; open; L broad] place.
    Because he delights in me, he ·saved [rescued; T delivered] me.

21 “The Lord ·spared [rewarded] me ·because I did what was right [L according to my righteousness].
    Because ·I have not done evil [of my innocence; L of the cleanness of my hands], he has ·rewarded [L restored] me.
22 I have ·followed [obeyed; kept; L guarded] the ways of the Lord;
    I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23 I ·remember [follow; L have before me] all his ·laws [regulations]
    and have not ·broken [abandoned; L turned from] his ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements].
24 I am ·innocent [blameless] before him;
    I have kept myself from ·doing evil [sin; guilt; iniquity].
25 The Lord ·rewarded [repaid] me ·because I did what was right [L according to my righteousness],
    ·because I did what the Lord said was right [L according to my cleanness/purity in his sight].

26 Lord, you ·are [show yourself] ·loyal [faithful; kind] to those who are loyal [faithful; kind],
    and you are good to those who are good.
27 You ·are [show yourself] ·pure [sincere] to those who are pure [sincere],
    but you ·are [show yourself] ·against [hostile/shrewd/cunning/perverse to] those who are ·evil [perverse; devious; crooked].
28 You ·save [rescue; T deliver] the ·humble [afflicted],
    but you ·bring down [watch and humiliate] ·those who are proud [the haughty].
29 Lord, you ·give light to [L are] my lamp.
    The Lord ·brightens the darkness around me [lights up/illuminates my darkness].
30 With your help I can ·attack [crush] an army.
    With God’s help I can ·jump over [scale] a wall.

31 “The ·ways [way; path] of God are ·without fault [blameless; perfect];
    the Lord’s ·words [promises] are ·pure [tested; flawless; proven true].
He is a shield to those who ·trust [seek protection/take refuge in] him.
32 Who is God? Only the Lord.
    Who is the Rock? Only our God.
33 God ·is my protection [is my strong fortress; or girds me with strength].
    He makes my way ·free from fault [perfect; secure; a wide path].
34 He makes ·me [L my feet] like a deer [C surefooted];
    he ·helps me stand [sets me] on the ·steep mountains [heights].
35 He trains my hands for battle
    so my arms can bend a bronze bow.
36 You ·protect me with your saving shield [L have given me the shield of your salvation/victory].
    ·You have stooped to make [Your help makes] me great.
37 You ·give me a better way to live [broaden my path; L widen my steps beneath me]
    so ·I live as you want me to [my feet do not slip/L ankles do not weaken].
38 I ·chased [pursued] my enemies and ·destroyed [exterminated] them.
    I did not ·quit [turn back] till they were ·destroyed [annihilated; consumed].
39 I ·destroyed [devoured; consumed] and ·crushed them [shattered them; struck them down]
    so they couldn’t ·rise [get] up again.
    They fell beneath my feet.
40 You ·gave me [L armed/girded me with] strength ·in [for] battle.
    You ·made my enemies bow [humbled/subdued my enemies] ·before me [under my feet].
41 You made my enemies ·turn back [turn their backs; retreat],
    and I destroyed ·those who hated me [my foes].
42 They ·called for help [looked around],
    but no one came to ·save [rescue] them.
They ·called [looked] to the Lord,
    but he did not answer them.
43 I ·beat my enemies into pieces [ground/pulverized them],
    like dust ·on the ground [of the earth].
I ·poured them out and walked [crushed and stamped] on them
    like ·mud [mire] in the streets.

44 “You ·saved [rescued; T delivered] me when my people ·attacked me [quarreled; fought].
    You kept me as the ·leader [ruler; head] of nations.
People I never knew serve me.
45 Foreigners ·obey [cower/L cringe before] me.
    As soon as they hear ·me [of me], they obey me.
46 They all ·become afraid [lose heart/their courage]
    and ·tremble in [come trembling from] their ·hiding places [fortresses; strongholds].

47 “The Lord lives!
    May my Rock be ·praised [blessed]!
    Praise God, the Rock, ·who saves me […of my salvation]!
48 God gives me ·victory [revenge; vengeance] over my enemies
    and brings ·people [the nations] under ·my rule [me].
49 He frees me from my enemies.
“You ·set me over those who hate me [exalt/lift me above my enemies].
    You ·saved [rescued; T delivered] me from violent people.
50 So I will ·praise [extol] you, Lord, among the nations.
    I will sing praises to your name.
51 The Lord ·gives great victories [is a tower of salvation] to his king.
    He ·is loyal [shows kindness/faithful love] to his ·appointed king [anointed],
to David and his descendants forever.”

22 And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

14 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

25 Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.

30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

32 For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?

33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.

43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

47 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me.

49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

David’s Song of Praise(A)

22 David sang(B) 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. He said:

“The Lord is my rock,(C) my fortress(D) and my deliverer;(E)
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(F)
    my shield[a](G) and the horn[b](H) of my salvation.
He is my stronghold,(I) my refuge and my savior—
    from violent people you save me.

“I called to the Lord, who is worthy(J) of praise,
    and have been saved from my enemies.
The waves(K) of death swirled about me;
    the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave(L) coiled around me;
    the snares of death confronted me.

“In my distress(M) I called(N) to the Lord;
    I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
    my cry came to his ears.
The earth(O) trembled and quaked,(P)
    the foundations(Q) of the heavens[c] shook;
    they trembled because he was angry.
Smoke rose from his nostrils;
    consuming fire(R) came from his mouth,
    burning coals(S) blazed out of it.
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
    dark clouds(T) were under his feet.
11 He mounted the cherubim(U) and flew;
    he soared[d] on the wings of the wind.(V)
12 He made darkness(W) his canopy around him—
    the dark[e] rain clouds of the sky.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
    bolts of lightning(X) blazed forth.
14 The Lord thundered(Y) from heaven;
    the voice of the Most High resounded.
15 He shot his arrows(Z) and scattered the enemy,
    with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
    and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke(AA) of the Lord,
    at the blast(AB) of breath from his nostrils.

17 “He reached down from on high(AC) and took hold of me;
    he drew(AD) me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued(AE) me from my powerful enemy,
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but the Lord was my support.(AF)
20 He brought me out into a spacious(AG) place;
    he rescued(AH) me because he delighted(AI) in me.(AJ)

21 “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;(AK)
    according to the cleanness(AL) of my hands(AM) he has rewarded me.
22 For I have kept(AN) the ways of the Lord;
    I am not guilty of turning from my God.
23 All his laws are before me;(AO)
    I have not turned(AP) away from his decrees.
24 I have been blameless(AQ) before him
    and have kept myself from sin.
25 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,(AR)
    according to my cleanness[f] in his sight.

26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
    to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure(AS) you show yourself pure,
    but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.(AT)
28 You save the humble,(AU)
    but your eyes are on the haughty(AV) to bring them low.(AW)
29 You, Lord, are my lamp;(AX)
    the Lord turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop[g];
    with my God I can scale a wall.

31 “As for God, his way is perfect:(AY)
    The Lord’s word is flawless;(AZ)
    he shields(BA) all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock(BB) except our God?(BC)
33 It is God who arms me with strength[h]
    and keeps my way secure.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;(BD)
    he causes me to stand on the heights.(BE)
35 He trains my hands(BF) for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow(BG) of bronze.
36 You make your saving help my shield;(BH)
    your help has made[i] me great.
37 You provide a broad path(BI) for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.

38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
    I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed(BJ) them completely, and they could not rise;
    they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle;
    you humbled my adversaries before me.(BK)
41 You made my enemies turn their backs(BL) in flight,
    and I destroyed my foes.
42 They cried for help,(BM) but there was no one to save them—(BN)
    to the Lord, but he did not answer.(BO)
43 I beat them as fine as the dust(BP) of the earth;
    I pounded and trampled(BQ) them like mud(BR) in the streets.

44 “You have delivered(BS) me from the attacks of the peoples;
    you have preserved(BT) me as the head of nations.
People(BU) I did not know now serve me,
45     foreigners cower(BV) before me;
    as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.(BW)
46 They all lose heart;
    they come trembling[j](BX) from their strongholds.

47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
    Exalted(BY) be my God, the Rock, my Savior!(BZ)
48 He is the God who avenges(CA) me,(CB)
    who puts the nations under me,
49     who sets me free from my enemies.(CC)
You exalted me(CD) above my foes;
    from a violent man you rescued me.
50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing the praises(CE) of your name.(CF)

51 “He gives his king great victories;(CG)
    he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,(CH)
    to David(CI) and his descendants forever.”(CJ)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 22:3 Or sovereign
  2. 2 Samuel 22:3 Horn here symbolizes strength.
  3. 2 Samuel 22:8 Hebrew; Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:7) mountains
  4. 2 Samuel 22:11 Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also Psalm 18:10); most Hebrew manuscripts appeared
  5. 2 Samuel 22:12 Septuagint (see also Psalm 18:11); Hebrew massed
  6. 2 Samuel 22:25 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:24) to the cleanness of my hands
  7. 2 Samuel 22:30 Or can run through a barricade
  8. 2 Samuel 22:33 Dead Sea Scrolls, some Septuagint manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:32); Masoretic Text who is my strong refuge
  9. 2 Samuel 22:36 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text shield; / you stoop down to make
  10. 2 Samuel 22:46 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:45); Masoretic Text they arm themselves