1And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies , and out of the hand of Saul : 2And he said , The LORD is my rock , and my fortress , and my deliverer ; 3The God of my rock ; in him will I trust : he is my shield , and the horn of my salvation , my high tower , and my refuge , my saviour ; thou savest me from violence . 4I will call on the LORD , who is worthy to be praised : so shall I be saved from mine enemies . 5When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid ; 6The sorrows of hell compassed me about ; the snares of death prevented me; 7In my distress I called upon the LORD , and cried to my God : and he did hear my voice out of his temple , and my cry did enter into his ears .
God's Response to David's Cry
8Then the earth shook and trembled ; the foundations of heaven moved and shook , because he was wroth . 9There went up a smoke out of his nostrils , and fire out of his mouth devoured : coals were kindled by it. 10He bowed the heavens also, and came down ; and darkness was under his feet . 11And he rode upon a cherub , and did fly : and he was seen upon the wings of the wind . 12And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters , and thick clouds of the skies . 13Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled . 14The LORD thundered from heaven , and the most High uttered his voice . 15And he sent out arrows , and scattered them; lightning , and discomfited them. 16And the channels of the sea appeared , the foundations of the world were discovered , at the rebuking of the LORD , at the blast of the breath of his nostrils .
God's Faithfulness and Justice
17He sent from above , he took me; he drew me out of many waters ; 18He delivered me from my strong enemy , and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. 19They prevented me in the day of my calamity : but the LORD was my stay . 20He brought me forth also into a large place : he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness : according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22For I have kept the ways of the LORD , and have not wickedly departed from my God . 23For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes , I did not depart from them. 24I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity . 25Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness ; according to my cleanness in his eye sight .
David's Victory and God's Strength
26With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful , and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright . 27With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure ; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury . 28And the afflicted people thou wilt save : but thine eyes are upon the haughty , that thou mayest bring them down . 29For thou art my lamp , O LORD : and the LORD will lighten my darkness . 30For by thee I have run through a troop : by my God have I leaped over a wall . 31As for God , his way is perfect ; the word of the LORD is tried : he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
A Call to Praise
32For who is God , save the LORD ? and who is a rock , save our God ? 33God is my strength and power : and he maketh my way perfect . 34He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places . 35He teacheth my hands to war ; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms . 36Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation : and thy gentleness hath made me great . 37Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip . 38I have pursued mine enemies , and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. 39And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise : yea, they are fallen under my feet . 40For thou hast girded me with strength to battle : them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. 41Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies , that I might destroy them that hate me. 42They looked , but there was none to save ; even unto the LORD , but he answered them not. 43Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth , I did stamp them as the mire of the street , and did spread them abroad . 44Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people , thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen : a people which I knew not shall serve me. 45Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear , they shall be obedient unto me. 46Strangers shall fade away , and they shall be afraid out of their close places . 47The LORD liveth ; and blessed be my rock ; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation . 48It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, 49And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies : thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man . 50Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD , among the heathen , and I will sing praises unto thy name . 51He is the tower of salvation for his king : and sheweth mercy to his anointed , unto David , and to his seed for evermore .