Dual PanelSongs of David
1THESE are the words of the song David sang to the LORD on the day when the LORD delivered him from the power of all his enemies and from the power of Saul:
2The LORD is my lofty crag, my fortress, my champion,
3my God, my rock in whom I find shelter, my shield and sure defender, my strong tower, my refuge, my deliverer who saves me from violence.
4I shall call to the LORD to whom all praise is due; then I shall be made safe from my enemies.
5When the waves of death encompassed me and destructive torrents overtook me,
6the bonds of Sheol tightened about me, the snares of death were set to catch me.
7When in anguish of heart I cried to the LORD and called to my God, he heard me from his temple, and my cry reached his ears.
8The earth shook and quaked. Heaven's foundations trembled, shaking because of his anger.
9Smoke went up from his nostrils, devouring fire from his mouth, glowing coals and searing heat.
10He parted the heavens and came down; thick darkness lay under his feet.
11He flew on the back of a cherub; he swooped on the wings of the wind.
12He made darkness around him his covering, dense vapour his canopy.
13Thick clouds came from the radiance before him; glowing coals burned brightly.
14GOD thundered from the heavens; the Most High raised his voice.
15He loosed arrows, he sped them far and wide, his lightning shafts, and sent them echoing.
16The channels of the sea were exposed, earth's foundations laid bare at the LORD's rebuke, at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
17He reached down from on high and took me, he drew me out of mighty waters,
18he delivered me from my enemies, strong as they were, from my foes when they grew too powerful for me.
19They confronted me in my hour of peril, but the LORD was my buttress.
20He brought me into untrammelled liberty; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
21The LORD repaid me as my righteousness deserved; because my conduct was spotless he rewarded me,
22for I have kept to the ways of the LORD and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
23All his laws I keep before me, and have never failed to follow his decrees.
24In his sight I was blameless and kept myself from wrongdoing;
25because I was spotless in his eyes the LORD rewarded me as my righteousness deserved.
26To the loyal you show yourself loyal and blameless to the blameless.
27To the pure you show yourself pure, but skilful in your dealings with the perverse.
28You bring humble folk to safety, but humiliate those who look so high and mighty.
29LORD, you are my lamp; my God will lighten my darkness.
30With your help I storm a rampart; by my God's aid I leap over a wall.
31The way of God is blameless; the LORD's word has stood the test; he is the shield of all who take refuge in him.
32What god is there but the LORD? What rock but our God:
33the God who girds me with strength and makes my way free from blame,
34who makes me swift as a hind and sets me secure on the heights,
35who trains my hands for battle so that my arms can aim a bronze-tipped bow?
36You have given me the shield of your salvation; you stoop down to make me great.
37You made room for my steps; my feet have not slipped.
38I pursue and destroy my enemies, until I have made an end of them I do not turn back.
39I make an end of them, I strike them down; they rise no more, but fall prostrate at my feet.
40You gird me with strength for the battle and subdue my assailants beneath me.
41You set my foot on my enemies' necks, and I wipe out those who hate me.
42They cry, but there is no one to save them; they cry to the LORD, but he does not answer.
43I shall beat them fine as dust on the ground, like mud in the streets I shall trample them.
44You set me free from the people who challenge me, and make me master of nations. A people I never knew will be my subjects.
45Foreigners will come fawning to me; as soon as they hear tell of me, they will submit.
46Foreigners will be disheartened and come trembling from their strongholds.
47The LORD lives! Blessed is my rock! High above all is God, my safe refuge.
48You grant me vengeance, God, laying nations prostrate at my feet;
49you free me from my enemies, setting me over my assailants; you are my deliverer from violent men.
50Therefore, LORD, I shall praise you among the nations and sing psalms to your name,
51to one who gives his king great victories and keeps faith with his anointed, with David and his descendants for ever.