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David sang this song to the LORD when the LORD rescued him from all his enemies, especially from Saul.
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He said, The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior,
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my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, the strength of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior who saved me from violence.
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The LORD should be praised. I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.
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The waves of death had surrounded me. The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me.
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The ropes of the grave had surrounded me. The clutches of death had confronted me.
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I called on the LORD in my distress. I called to my God for help. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help reached his ears.
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Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the heavens trembled. They shook violently because he was angry.
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Smoke went up from his nostrils, and a raging fire came out of his mouth. Glowing coals flared up from it.
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He spread apart the heavens and came down with a dark cloud under his feet.
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He rode on one of the angels as he flew, and he soared on the wings of the wind.
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He surrounded himself with darkness. He made the dark rain clouds his covering.
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Out of the brightness in front of him, he made lightning.
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The LORD thundered from heaven. The Most High made his voice heard.
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He shot arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion.
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Then the ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at the LORD's stern warning, at the blast of the breath from his nostrils.
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He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water.
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He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.
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On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me, but the LORD became my defense.
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He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me.
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The LORD rewarded me because of my righteousness, because my hands are clean. He paid me back
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because I have kept the ways of the LORD and I have not wickedly turned away from my God,
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because all his judgments are in front of me and I have not turned away from his laws.
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I was innocent as far as he was concerned. I have kept myself from guilt.
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The LORD paid me back because of my righteousness, because he can see that I am clean.
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[In dealing] with faithful people you are faithful, with innocent warriors you are innocent,
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with pure people you are pure. [In dealing] with devious people you are clever.
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You save humble people, but your eyes bring down arrogant people.
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O LORD, you are my lamp. The LORD turns my darkness into light.
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With you I can attack a line of soldiers. With my God I can break through barricades.
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God's way is perfect! The promise of the LORD has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
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Who is God but the LORD? Who is a rock other than our God?
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God arms me with strength. His perfect way sets me free.
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He makes my feet like those of a deer and gives me sure footing on high places.
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He trains my hands for battle so that my arms can bend an [archer's] bow of bronze.
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You have given me the shield of your salvation. Your help makes me great.
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You make a wide path for me to walk on so that my feet do not slip.
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I chased my enemies and destroyed them. I did not return until I had ended their lives.
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I ended their lives by shattering them. They were unable to get up. They fell under my feet.
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You armed me with strength for battle. You made my opponents bow at my feet.
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You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and I destroyed those who hated me.
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They looked, but there was no one to save them. They looked to the LORD, but he did not answer them.
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I beat them into a powder as fine as the dust on the ground. I crushed them and stomped on them like the dirt on the streets.
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You rescued me from my conflicts with my people. You kept me as the leader of nations. A people I did not know will serve me.
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Foreigners will cringe in front of me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
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Foreigners will lose heart, although they are armed in their fortifications.
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The LORD lives! Thanks be to my rock! May God, the rock of my salvation, be glorified.
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God gives me vengeance! He brings people under my authority.
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He frees me from my enemies. You lift me up above my opponents. You rescue me from violent people.
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That is why I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the nations and make music to praise your name.
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He gives great victories to his king. He shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his descendant forever.
