2 Samuel 22:1-36

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.

2 Samuel 22:1-36 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 22

This chapter contains a song or psalm, the same with the eighteenth psalm, and which, according to Jarchi, was composed by David in his old age, and, as Kimchi says, at the end or close of his days; but Abarbinel is of opinion that it was written in his youthful time, in the midst of his troubles, and was sung by him as often as he had a deliverance from any; and which may account for the several variations in it from the eighteenth psalm, which, the same writer observes, are seventy four; and are not to be ascribed to the difference of copies, or neglect of copiers: and very probably, towards the close of his days, he revised it, and made it fit for general use, and sent it with the rest of his psalms to the chief musician; but the particular consideration of it, and of the differences in it from Ps 18:1-50 are referred to the exposition of that book in its course.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew Sheol.
• [b]. Hebrew a cherub.
• [c]. As in some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ps 18:10 ); other Hebrew manuscripts read appearing.
• [d]. Or and lightning bolts.
• [e]. As in Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text reads your answering.