[22:1] When the Lord saved David from Saul and his other enemies, David sang this song to the Lord:
[22:2] The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress.
[22:3] My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. He is my savior; he protects me and saves me from violence.
[22:4] I call to the Lord, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the Lord!
[22:5] The waves of death were all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me.
[22:6] The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me.
[22:7] In my trouble I called to the Lord; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.
[22:8] Then the earth trembled and shook; the foundations of the sky rocked and quivered because God was angry!
[22:9] Smoke poured out of his nostrils, a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.
[22:10] He tore the sky open and came down, with a dark cloud under his feet.
[22:11] He flew swiftly on his winged creature; he traveled on the wings of the wind.
[22:12] He covered himself with darkness; thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him;
[22:13] burning coals flamed up from the lightning before him.
[22:14] Then the Lord thundered from the sky, and the voice of Almighty God was heard.
[22:15] He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; with flashes of lightning he sent them running.
[22:16] The floor of the ocean was laid bare, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered when the Lord rebuked his enemies and roared at them in anger.
[22:17] The Lord reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me out of the deep waters.
[22:18] He rescued me from my powerful enemies and from all those who hate me— they were too strong for me.
[22:19] When I was in trouble, they attacked me, but the Lord protected me.
[22:20] He helped me out of danger; he saved me because he was pleased with me.
[22:21] The Lord rewards me because I do what is right; he blesses me because I am innocent.
[22:22] I have obeyed the law of the Lord; I have not turned away from my God.
[22:23] I have observed all his laws; I have not disobeyed his commands.
[22:24] He knows that I am faultless, that I have kept myself from doing wrong.
[22:25] And so he rewards me because I do what is right, because he knows that I am innocent.
[22:26] O Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you, and completely good to those who are perfect.
[22:27] You are pure to those who are pure, but hostile to those who are wicked.
[22:28] You save those who are humble, but you humble those who are proud.
[22:29] You, Lord, are my light; you dispel my darkness.
[22:30] You give me strength to attack my enemies and power to overcome their defenses.
[22:31] This God—how perfect are his deeds, how dependable his words! He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.
[22:32] The Lord alone is God; God alone is our defense.
[22:33] This God is my strong refuge; he makes my pathway safe.
[22:34] He makes me sure-footed as a deer; he keeps me safe on the mountains.
[22:35] He trains me for battle, so that I can use the strongest bow.
[22:36] O Lord, you protect me and save me; your help has made me great.
[22:37] You have kept me from being captured, and I have never fallen.
[22:38] I pursue my enemies and defeat them; I do not stop until I destroy them.
[22:39] I strike them down, and they cannot rise; they lie defeated before me.
[22:40] You give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies.
[22:41] You make my enemies run from me; I destroy those who hate me.
[22:42] They look for help, but no one saves them; they call to the Lord, but he does not answer.
[22:43] I crush them, and they become like dust; I trample on them like mud in the streets.
[22:44] You saved me from my rebellious people and maintained my rule over the nations; people I did not know have now become my subjects.
[22:45] Foreigners bow before me; when they hear me, they obey.
[22:46] They lose their courage and come trembling from their fortresses.
[22:47] The Lord lives! Praise my defender! Proclaim the greatness of the strong God who saves me!
[22:48] He gives me victory over my enemies; he subdues the nations under me
[22:49] and saves me from my foes. O Lord, you give me victory over my enemies and protect me from violent men.
[22:50] And so I praise you among the nations; I sing praises to you.
[22:51] God gives great victories to his king; he shows constant love to the one he has chosen, to David and his descendants forever.