1David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song on the day Yahweh rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.
2He said: “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer—he is mine.
3God is my rock, in whom I find safety; he is my shield, the strength of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence.
4I call on Yahweh, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
5For the waves of death surrounded me. The torrents of evil made me afraid.
6The ropes of the grave entangled me. The traps of death confronted me.
7In my distress, I called out to Yahweh. Yes, I cried out to my God. From his temple, he heard my voice. My cry reached his ears.
8Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of the heavens quaked and were shaken because he was angry.
9Smoke rose from his nostrils. Consuming fire came from his mouth; burning coals blazed from him.
10He bent the heavens and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
11He rode on a cherub and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
12He made darkness his hiding place, a shelter around him: gathering waters and thick clouds of the sky.
13From the brightness before him, coals of fire blazed.
14Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High raised his voice.
15He shot arrows and scattered them; he sent lightning and confused them.
16Then the bottom of the sea became visible. The very foundations of the earth were uncovered by Yahweh’s warning, by the powerful blast from his nostrils.
17He reached down from above and grabbed me. He pulled me out of deep waters.
18He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.
19They attacked me when I was in trouble, but Yahweh supported me.
20He also brought me to a safe, wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me.
21Yahweh rewarded me because I did what was right. He rewarded me because my hands were clean.
22For I have followed Yahweh’s ways and have not wickedly turned away from my God.
23Because all his laws were before me, and I did not disobey his rules.
24I was also faultless toward him. I kept myself from my sin.
25Therefore, Yahweh has rewarded me because I did what was right, because I was clean in his sight.
26To those who are merciful, you show mercy. To those who are faultless, you show yourself faultless.
27To those who are pure, you show yourself pure. But with the crooked, you show cunning.
28You save humble people, but your eyes are on the proud, to bring them down.
29For you, Yahweh, are my lamp. Yahweh lights up my darkness.
30Because with your help, I can charge through a troop of soldiers. With my God’s help, I can jump over a wall.
31As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is proven to be true. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
32For who is God besides Yahweh? And who is a protector besides our God?
33God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.
34He makes my feet like the feet of a deer on high places, and sets me securely.
35He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your kindness has made me great.
37You have made my path wide beneath me, so my feet have not slipped.
38I chased my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until they were wiped out.
39I completely destroyed them and struck them down, so they could not get up. Yes, they fell beneath my feet.
40For you have armed me with strength for the fight and have brought down those who rose against me.
41You also made my enemies turn their backs to me, so I could cut off those who hated me.
42They looked, but there was no one to save them; they even cried to Yahweh, but he did not answer them.
43Then I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth. I crushed them like the mud in the streets and scattered them.
44You have also rescued me from the conflicts of my people. You have kept me to be the leader of nations. People I did not know will serve me.
45Foreigners will surrender to me; as soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
46Foreigners will lose courage and come trembling from their hiding places.
47Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! May God, the rock of my salvation, be highly praised!
48He is the God who takes revenge for me, who brings down nations under me,
49who saves me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me above those who attack me. You rescue me from violent men.
50Therefore, I will thank you, Yahweh, among the nations and sing praises to your name.
51He gives great victories to his king and shows loyal love to his anointed one, to David and to his descendants forever.”