2 Samuel 22

1 And David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] sang [spoke, uttered] this song [musical expression of praise and worship] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] on the day [a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time] the LORD [the supreme Creator and Deliverer] had delivered [rescued, snatched away from danger] him from the hand [palm, power] of all [everything, every single one] his enemies [adversaries, those who hate or oppose] and from the hand [palm, power] of Saul [Shaul, meaning desired, a Benjamite king]. word study 2 He said: “The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is my rock [crag, a strong and secure place], my fortress [a stronghold, like a castle], and my deliverer [one who rescues, sets free]. word study 3 My God [Elohim, the supreme One] is my rock [strong refuge, fortress], in whom I take refuge [trust, seek safety], my shield [protector, defender], and the horn [a horn; a hill or peak] of my salvation [deliverance, rescue]. My stronghold [high tower, secure place], my refuge [safe haven, shelter], and my Savior [Rescuer, Redeemer], You save [deliver, preserve] me from violence [cruelty, injustice]. word study 4 I will call [cry out, send up my cry] upon the LORD [Yehovah], who is worthy [deserves, should be] to be praised [celebrated, honored]; so shall I be saved [delivered, rescued] from my enemies [those who hate me, adversaries]. word study 5 For [because of this reason] the waves [breakers, powerful surges] of death [separation from God, eternal destruction] engulfed [surrounded, compassed] me; the torrents [floods, overflowing streams] of chaos [ungodliness, worthlessness, Belial] overwhelmed [terrified, made afraid] me. word study 6 The cords [ropes, chains] of Sheol [the underworld, grave] entangled [surrounded, seized] me; the snares [traps, nets] of death [mortal end, separation from God] confronted [met, prevented] me. word study 7 In my distress [trouble, adversity, narrow straits] I called [cried out, invoked] upon the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; I cried out [called unto, invoked] to my God [Elohim, the supreme God]. And from His temple [the holy Temple, His palace] He heard [listened to, heeded] my voice [sound, cry], and my cry [loud cry, desperate call] for help [assistance, aid] reached [came into, entered] His ears [the ability to hear, His attention]. word study 8 Then the earth [land, ground] shook and quaked [trembled violently]; the foundations [starting point, base] of the heavens [sky, visible universe] trembled [were shaken with fear]; they were shaken [quaked, agitated] because He burned [was incensed, furious] with anger [zeal, strong emotion]. word study 9 Smoke [rising like an offering] rose from His nostrils [face], and consuming [devouring, fiery] fire came from His mouth [lips, edge of His presence]; glowing [burning, kindled] coals [hot embers, purification] blazed [burned, were kindled] forth [out of His presence, from Him]. word study 10 He parted [bowed, stretched] the heavens [the visible universe, the abode of God] and came down [descended, went down] with dark [thick, heavy] clouds beneath [underneath, below] His feet [the foot, the leg]. word study 11 He mounted [rode upon, seated on] a cherub [an angelic being, heavenly creature] and flew [soared, did fly]; He soared [was seen, slid] on the wings [edges, extremities] of the wind [a blast of air]. word study 12 He made [thick, impenetrable] darkness [a state of spiritual or physical gloom] a canopy [a covering, pavilion, or shelter] around Him, a gathering [collection, mass] of water [a source of refreshment] and thick [dense, heavy] clouds [a sign of God’s presence]. word study 13 From the [intense, radiant] brightness [before Him, in His presence] of His presence [His glorious, divine manifestation] coals [glowing, fiery embers] of fire [purifying, refining flames] blazed [were kindled, burned intensely] forth [out, outwardly]. word study 14 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] thundered [made a loud, rumbling sound, was violently angry] from heaven [the visible universe, the abode of God]; the voice [sound, utterance] of the Most High [the supreme power, God] resounded [was heard, uttered his voice]. word study 15 He shot [sent forth, fired] His arrows [sharp objects, projectiles] and scattered [dispersed, shattered] the foes [enemies, adversaries]; He hurled [sent out, unleashed] lightning [a powerful force of nature, flashes of light] and routed [confused, discomfited] them. word study 16 The channels [strong streams, deep beds] of the sea [a large body of water] appeared, and the foundations [base, starting point] of the world [the earth and its inhabitants] were exposed [revealed, laid bare] at the rebuke [stern warning, correction] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], at the blast [blast of wind, breath] of the breath [spirit, wind] of His nostrils [face, anger]. word study 17 He reached down [sent from above, stretched out] from on high [a lofty, elevated place] and took hold [grasped, seized] of me; He drew [pulled out, rescued] me out of deep [many, great] waters [a source of refreshment]. word study 18 He rescued [delivered, saved] me from my powerful [strong, mighty] enemy [adversary, one who hates me], from foes [those who hated me] too mighty [strong, fierce] for me [because they were stronger than I]. word study 19 They [came upon, prevented, fell upon] confronted me in my [day of trouble, calamity, affliction] [when I was experiencing difficulties] day of calamity, but the LORD [Yehovah] was my [stay, protector] [who sustained me] support. word study 20 He brought me out [into a large place, to a wide open space] into the open; He rescued [delivered, set me free] me because He delighted [took pleasure, was pleased] in me [because of His favor, love for me]. word study 21 The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has rewarded me according to my righteousness [moral integrity, justice]; He has repaid me according to the cleanness [purity, innocence] of my hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share]. word study 22 For [because of this reason] I have kept [obeyed, protected, and attended to] the ways [path, journey, manner of life] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] and have not [in no way] wickedly [acted wrongly, been sinful] departed [turned away, strayed] from my God [Elohim, my supreme ruler]. word study 23 For [because of, due to] all His ordinances [judgments, laws] are before [in front of, visible to] me; I have not [in no way, never] disregarded [turned aside from, departed from] His statutes [precepts, laws]. word study 24 And I have been [completely upright, perfect] blameless [unblemished, without defect] before Him [in His sight, before His presence] and kept [protected, guarded] myself from [free from, separate from] iniquity [moral evil, sin, wickedness]. word study 25 So the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has repaid [rewarded, recompensed] me according to my righteousness [justice, virtue], according to my cleanness [purity, innocence] in His sight [before His eyes, in His eyesight]. word study 26 To the faithful [pious, kind, and holy] You show Yourself faithful [being loyal, trustworthy, and true], to the blameless [unblemished, perfect, and upright] You show Yourself blameless [without fault, innocent, and righteous]; word study 27 to the pure [holy, upright, having God’s nature] You show Yourself pure [clean, refined, without sin], but to the crooked [twisted, perverted, wicked] You show Yourself shrewd [astute, hostile, a wrestler against the perverse]. word study 28 You save [rescue, deliver] an afflicted [humble, weak, depressed] people [nation, community], but Your eyes [source of insight] are on [upon, watching over] the haughty [proud, exalted] to bring them down [to abase, to humble]. word study 29 For You, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], are my lamp [source of guidance, spiritual light]; the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah] lights up [will lighten, shines] my darkness [state of misery, spiritual gloom]. word study 30 For [because of, due to] in You [my Rock, my Savior] I can charge [run through, break through] an army [a band of soldiers, a troop]; with my God [Elohim, the Almighty] I can scale [leap over, climb] a wall [a fortress, a high barrier]. word study 31 As for God [the supreme Being, Almighty], His way [path, journey] is perfect [unblemished, flawless]; the word [declaration, promise] of the LORD [Yehovah] is flawless [tried, refined]. He is a shield [protector, defender] to all [everyone, everything] who take refuge [trust, seek safety] in Him. word study 32 For who [what being] is God [Elohim, the supreme deity] besides [except, other than] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]? And who [what being] is the Rock [a refuge, stronghold] except [besides, other than] our God [the one supreme God, Elohim]? word study 33 God [my Rock, my Strength] is my strong fortress [security, my bulwark] and He makes [guides, sets free] my way [path, journey] clear [perfect, upright]. word study 34 He makes my feet [like hinds’ feet, surefooted] like those of a deer and stations me [sets me firmly, causes me to stand] upon [on, above] the heights [high places, elevations, cultic platforms]. word study 35 He trains [teacheth, instructs] my hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] for battle [war, conflict]; my arms [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power] can bend [bring down, make flexible] a bow [weapon] of bronze [copper, a strong metal]. word study 36 You have given [bestowed upon, granted] me Your shield [breastplate, protection] of salvation [deliverance, rescue], and Your gentleness [loving kindness, humility] exalts [makes great, multiplies] me. word study 37 You broaden [enlarge, make wide] the path [step, pace] beneath me so that my ankles [joints, feet] do not [in no way] give way [slip, slide, fail]. word study 38 I pursued [chased, went after] my enemies [those who hate or oppose me] and destroyed [annihilated, desolated] them; I did not [never] turn back [return, reverse direction] until [as far as, till the point when] they were consumed [totally defeated, used up]. word study 39 I devoured [consumed, ate] and crushed [wounded, shattered] them so they could [were able to] not rise [stand up, arise]; they have fallen [been defeated, lain down] under [beneath, underneath] my feet [in my presence, at my command]. word study 40 You have armed [girded, surrounded] me with strength [power, might] for battle [war, conflict]; You have subdued [caused to bow, made low] my foes [those who rose up against me] beneath [under, underneath] me. word study 41 You have made my enemies [those who hate me, foes] retreat before me; I put an end [to destroy, cut off] to those who hated [felt intense dislike, were hostile] me. word study 42 They looked [crying out for help, to gaze intensely], but there was no one [none, nothing] to save [rescue, deliver] them— to [toward, towards] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], but He did not [refused to, would not] answer [respond, give an answer]. word study 43 I ground them [as small as the dust of the earth, like tiny particles] as the dust [dry earth or clay] of the earth; I crushed [pulverized, beat into small pieces] and trampled them [stamped them down, spread them abroad] like mud [mire, clay or dirt] in the streets [outside, outdoors, in the public square]. word study 44 You have delivered [rescued, set free] me from the strife [contentions, disputes] of my people; You have preserved [kept, protected] me as the head [chief, ruler] of nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples]; a people [nation, group of people] I had not known [been acquainted with, understood] shall serve [obey, be in bondage to] me. word study 45 Foreigners [sons of a stranger, men of other countries] cower [submit themselves, feign obedience] before me; when they hear [at the hearing of the ear, as soon as they hear of] me, they obey [shall be obedient, hearken to] me. word study 46 Foreigners [strangers, those from other nations] lose heart [fade away, become senseless] and come trembling [shaking with fear, afraid] from their strongholds [close places, secret chambers, perimeters of their territories]. word study 47 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] lives [is alive, has life], and blessed [praise, honor] be my Rock [refuge, strong foundation]! And may God [Elohim, the supreme God], the Rock [strong foundation] of my salvation [deliverance, rescue], be exalted [lifted up, elevated]— word study 48 the God [who sends punishment on my haters] who avenges [executes vengeance for] me and brings down [subdues, puts under my rule] nations [peoples, Amaw] beneath [under, underneath] me, word study 49 who frees [delivers, rescues] me from my enemies [those who hate me, adversaries]. You exalt [lift up, raise high] me above my foes [those who rise up against me]; You rescue [deliver, snatch away] me from violent [cruel, wicked] men [individuals, humans]. word study 50 Therefore [so, thus] I will praise [give thanks, express gratitude] You, O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], among the nations [Gentiles, heathen]; I will sing [make music, celebrate] praises [hymns of adoration] to Your name [identity, character, reputation]. word study 51 Great [magnifying, mighty] salvation [victory, deliverance] He brings to His king [royal ruler, monarch]. He shows [doing, making] loving devotion [kindness, mercy, chesed] to His anointed [Messiah, chosen one], to David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] and his descendants [seed, offspring] forever [always, till the end of time, olam].” word study