[1] David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.
[2] He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
[3] my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.
[4] I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
[5] “The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me.
[6] The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.
[7] But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.
[8] “Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the heavens shook; they quaked because of his anger.
[9] Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
[10] He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
[11] Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.
[12] He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dense rain clouds.
[13] A great brightness shone around him, and burning coals blazed forth.
[14] The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
[15] He shot arrows and scattered his enemies; his lightning flashed, and they were confused.
[16] Then at the command of the Lord, at the blast of his breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
[17] “He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.
[18] He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
[19] They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me.
[20] He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.
[21] The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.
[22] For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
[23] I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.
[24] I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.
[25] The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.
[26] “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
[27] To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
[28] You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.
[29] O Lord, you are my lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness.
[30] In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.
[31] “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
[32] For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?
[33] God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect.
[34] He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
[35] He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
[36] You have given me your shield of victory; your help has made me great.
[37] You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.
[38] “I chased my enemies and destroyed them; I did not stop until they were conquered.
[39] I consumed them; I struck them down so they did not get up; they fell beneath my feet.
[40] You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
[41] You placed my foot on their necks. I have destroyed all who hated me.
[42] They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
[43] I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth; I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.
[44] “You gave me victory over my accusers. You preserved me as the ruler over nations; people I don’t even know now serve me.
[45] Foreign nations cringe before me; as soon as they hear of me, they submit.
[46] They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.
[47] “The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!
[48] He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he brings down the nations under me
[49] and delivers me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.
[50] For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
[51] You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.”