[81] To the director.[82] The song of the Lord's servant, David. He sang this song when the Lord saved him from Saul and all his other enemies.
<1> I love you, Lord!
You are my strength.
<2> The Lord is my Rock,[83] my fortress,[84] my place of safety.
My God is my Rock; I run to him for protection.
He is my shield; by his power I am saved.[85]
He is my hiding place high in the hills.
<3> I called to the Lord for help,
and he saved me from my enemies!
He is worthy of my praise!
<4> Death had its ropes wrapped around me.
I was caught in a flood carrying me to the place of no return.[86]
<5> The ropes of the grave wound around me.
Death set its trap right there in front of me.
<6> In my trouble I called to the Lord.
Yes, I cried out to my God for help.
There in his temple he heard my voice.
He heard my cry for help.
<7> The earth shook and shivered.
The foundations of the mountains trembled.
They shook because God was angry.
<8> Smoke came from his nose.
Burning flames came from his mouth.
Red-hot coals fell from him.
<9> He tore open the sky and came down!
He stood on a thick, dark cloud.
<10> He flew across the sky, riding on the Cherub angels.
He was soaring high on the wind.
<11> He covered himself in dark clouds that surrounded him like a tent.
He was hidden by thick thunderclouds.
<12> Then God's shining brightness broke through the clouds.
Hail came down with flashes of lightning.
<13> The Lord thundered from the sky;
God Most High let his voice be heard.
<14> The Lord shot his arrows and scattered the enemy.
His lightning bolts threw them into confusion.
<15> Lord, you shouted your command,
and a powerful wind began to blow.[87]
The water was pushed back,
and we could see the bottom of the sea;
the earth's foundations were uncovered.
<16> The Lord reached down from above and grabbed me.
He pulled me from the deep water of my troubles.
<17> My enemies were powerful,
and they hated me.
They were too strong for me,
so he saved me.
<18> In my time of trouble my enemies attacked me,
but the Lord was there to support me.
<19> He was pleased with me, so he rescued me.
He took me to a safe place.
<20> The Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
He was good to me because I am innocent.
<21> The Lord did that because I have obeyed him.
I have not turned against my God.
<22> I never forget or ignore his laws.
I never reject his rules.
<23> He knows that I am not guilty of doing wrong.
I have kept myself from sinning.
<24> So the Lord rewarded me for doing right.
He knows I am innocent.
<25> Lord, you are always faithful to those who remain faithful to you.
You are true to those who are true to you.
<26> All whose hearts are good and pure can depend on you to be good to them.
But you can outsmart the wicked, no matter how clever they are.
<27> You help the humble,
but you humiliate the proud.
<28> Lord, you provide the flame for my lamp.
My God turns the darkness around me into light.
<29> With your help I can defeat an army.
If my God is with me, I can climb over enemy walls.
<30> God's way is perfect.
The Lord's promise always proves to be true.
He protects those who trust in him.
<31> There is no God except the Lord.
There is no Rock[88] except our God.
<32> God is the one who gives me strength.
He clears the path I need to take.
<33> He makes my feet steady, like the feet of a deer;
on high mountain paths he keeps me from falling.
<34> He trains me for war,
so that my arms can bend the most powerful bow.
<35> God, you have given me your shield to protect me.
You support me with your right hand.
Your gentle care for me has made me great.
<36> You clear the path for my feet,
so I can walk without stumbling.
<37> I chased my enemies and caught them.
I did not stop until they were destroyed.
<38> I struck down my enemies; they will not get up again.
They have fallen under my feet.
<39> God, you made me strong in battle.
You made my enemies fall before me.
<40> You made my enemies turn and run away.
I destroyed those who hated me.
<41> They cried out for help,
but there was no one to save them.
They cried out to the Lord,
but he did not answer them.
<42> I beat them to pieces, like dust blown by the wind.
I smashed them like mud in the streets.
<43> You saved me from those who fought against me.
You made me the ruler over nations.
People I never knew now serve me.
<44> As soon as they hear about me, they are ready to obey.
Those foreigners fall down before me.
<45> They lose all their courage
and come out of their hiding places shaking with fear.
<46> The Lord lives!
I praise my Rock,[89] the God who saves me.
How great he is!
<47> You punish my enemies for me.
You put people under my control.
<48> You rescue me from my enemies.
You help me defeat those who attack me.
You save me from cruel people.
<49> Lord, that is why I praise you among the nations.
That is why I sing songs of praise to your name.
<50> The Lord helps his king win battle after battle.
He shows his faithful love to the one he has chosen,[90]
to David and his descendants forever.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.