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The Victory Song of David

22 Then David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song,[a] on the day Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

And he said:
    “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
I take refuge in God, my rock,[b] my shield, and the strength[c] of my salvation.
    My stronghold and my refuge, O my savior, you will save me from violence!
I call upon Yahweh who is praiseworthy,
    and I am saved from those who hate me.
For the breaker waves of death engulfed me;
    the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.
The ropes of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon Yahweh, and to my God I called.
    He heard my voice from his temple,
    and my cry for help was to his ears.
The earth heaved and shook,
    the foundations of heaven trembled and heaved
    because he was angry.[d]
Smoke went up from his nostrils and fire from his mouth.
    Burning coals devoured, they burned from him.
10 He bowed the heavens and came down;
    a very thick cloud was under his feet.
11 He rode upon a cherub and flew;
    he was seen on the wings of the wind.
12 He put darkness as a canopy all around him,
    a collection of thick rain clouds.[e]
13 From the brightness before him
    flamed burning coals of fire.
14 Yahweh thundered from heaven,
    and the Most High uttered his voice.[f]
15 He sent arrows and he scattered them,
    lightning, and he directed them.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 22:1 This same song is recorded in Psa 18, with minor differences
  2. 2 Samuel 22:3 So many LXX mss, Targum, Vulgate, and Psa 18:3. MT has “the God of my rock”
  3. 2 Samuel 22:3 Literally “horn”
  4. 2 Samuel 22:8 Literally “it was hot for him”
  5. 2 Samuel 22:12 Literally “clouds of thick clouds”
  6. 2 Samuel 22:14 Literally “gave his voice”