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