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2 Samuel 22
Expanded Bible
2 Samuel 22
Expanded Bible
David’s Song of Praise(A)
22 David sang [L the words of] this song [C see the close parallel to the following song in Psalm 18] to the Lord when the Lord ·saved [rescued; T delivered] him from Saul and all his other enemies. 2 He said:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my ·Savior [rescuer; T deliverer].
3 My God is my rock.
·I can run to him for safety [L In whom I find protection/take refuge].
He is my shield and ·my saving strength [L the horn of my salvation; C symbolizes strength based on an animal lifting its head triumphantly],
my ·defender [stronghold] and my ·place of safety [refuge].
The Lord saves me from ·those who want to harm me [L violence].
4 I ·will call to [call upon] the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I ·will be [or am] saved from my enemies.
5 “The waves of death ·came around [swirled about; encompassed] me;
the ·deadly rivers [floods/torrents of destruction] overwhelmed me.
6 The ·ropes of death [cords of the grave/Sheol] ·wrapped around [entangled; coiled around] me.
The ·traps [snares] of death ·were before [confronted; lay ahead of] me.
7 In my ·trouble [distress; anguish] I ·called [cried out] to the Lord;
I ·cried out [called] to my God.
From his ·temple [sanctuary] he heard my voice;
my ·call for help [cry] reached his ears.
8 “The earth ·trembled [reeled; quaked] and ·shook [rocked].
The foundations of heaven began to ·shake [shudder].
They ·trembled [reeled; quaked] because the Lord was angry.
9 Smoke ·came out of his nose [poured/rose from his nostrils],
and ·burning [devouring] fire came out of his mouth.
Burning coals ·went before [blazed/flamed out from] him.
10 He ·tore open [parted; bowed] the ·sky [heavens] and came down
with ·dark clouds [storm clouds; thick darkness] under his feet.
11 He rode a ·creature with wings [cherub; C a mighty spiritual being/angel; Ezek. 1] and flew.
·He raced […soaring] on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his ·shelter [canopy, shroud]
surrounded by ·fog and [thick rain] clouds.
13 Out of the brightness ·of his presence [before him]
·came [blazed; flamed] ·flashes of lightning [L fiery coals].
14 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the ·Most High raised his voice [voice of the Most High resounded].
15 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies.
His bolts of lightning ·confused them with fear [routed them].
16 ·The wind blew from his nose [L At the blast of breath from his nostrils…] when he spoke.
Then the ·valleys [floor; channels] of the sea ·appeared [were exposed],
and the foundations of the earth were ·seen [laid bare].
17 “The Lord reached down from ·above [heaven; on high] and ·took [rescued] me;
he ·pulled me from the deep water [drew me out of mighty waters].
18 He ·saved [rescued; T delivered] me from my powerful enemies,
from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me.
19 They ·attacked [confronted] me ·at my time of trouble [L in the day of my distress/calamity/disaster],
but the Lord ·supported me [was my stay].
20 He took me to a ·safe [spacious; open; L broad] place.
Because he delights in me, he ·saved [rescued; T delivered] me.
21 “The Lord ·spared [rewarded] me ·because I did what was right [L according to my righteousness].
Because ·I have not done evil [of my innocence; L of the cleanness of my hands], he has ·rewarded [L restored] me.
22 I have ·followed [obeyed; kept; L guarded] the ways of the Lord;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23 I ·remember [follow; L have before me] all his ·laws [regulations]
and have not ·broken [abandoned; L turned from] his ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements].
24 I am ·innocent [blameless] before him;
I have kept myself from ·doing evil [sin; guilt; iniquity].
25 The Lord ·rewarded [repaid] me ·because I did what was right [L according to my righteousness],
·because I did what the Lord said was right [L according to my cleanness/purity in his sight].
26 “Lord, you ·are [show yourself] ·loyal [faithful; kind] to those who are loyal [faithful; kind],
and you are good to those who are good.
27 You ·are [show yourself] ·pure [sincere] to those who are pure [sincere],
but you ·are [show yourself] ·against [hostile/shrewd/cunning/perverse to] those who are ·evil [perverse; devious; crooked].
28 You ·save [rescue; T deliver] the ·humble [afflicted],
but you ·bring down [watch and humiliate] ·those who are proud [the haughty].
29 Lord, you ·give light to [L are] my lamp.
The Lord ·brightens the darkness around me [lights up/illuminates my darkness].
30 With your help I can ·attack [crush] an army.
With God’s help I can ·jump over [scale] a wall.
31 “The ·ways [way; path] of God are ·without fault [blameless; perfect];
the Lord’s ·words [promises] are ·pure [tested; flawless; proven true].
He is a shield to those who ·trust [seek protection/take refuge in] him.
32 Who is God? Only the Lord.
Who is the Rock? Only our God.
33 God ·is my protection [is my strong fortress; or girds me with strength].
He makes my way ·free from fault [perfect; secure; a wide path].
34 He makes ·me [L my feet] like a deer [C surefooted];
he ·helps me stand [sets me] on the ·steep mountains [heights].
35 He trains my hands for battle
so my arms can bend a bronze bow.
36 You ·protect me with your saving shield [L have given me the shield of your salvation/victory].
·You have stooped to make [Your help makes] me great.
37 You ·give me a better way to live [broaden my path; L widen my steps beneath me]
so ·I live as you want me to [my feet do not slip/L ankles do not weaken].
38 I ·chased [pursued] my enemies and ·destroyed [exterminated] them.
I did not ·quit [turn back] till they were ·destroyed [annihilated; consumed].
39 I ·destroyed [devoured; consumed] and ·crushed them [shattered them; struck them down]
so they couldn’t ·rise [get] up again.
They fell beneath my feet.
40 You ·gave me [L armed/girded me with] strength ·in [for] battle.
You ·made my enemies bow [humbled/subdued my enemies] ·before me [under my feet].
41 You made my enemies ·turn back [turn their backs; retreat],
and I destroyed ·those who hated me [my foes].
42 They ·called for help [looked around],
but no one came to ·save [rescue] them.
They ·called [looked] to the Lord,
but he did not answer them.
43 I ·beat my enemies into pieces [ground/pulverized them],
like dust ·on the ground [of the earth].
I ·poured them out and walked [crushed and stamped] on them
like ·mud [mire] in the streets.
44 “You ·saved [rescued; T delivered] me when my people ·attacked me [quarreled; fought].
You kept me as the ·leader [ruler; head] of nations.
People I never knew serve me.
45 Foreigners ·obey [cower/L cringe before] me.
As soon as they hear ·me [of me], they obey me.
46 They all ·become afraid [lose heart/their courage]
and ·tremble in [come trembling from] their ·hiding places [fortresses; strongholds].
47 “The Lord lives!
May my Rock be ·praised [blessed]!
Praise God, the Rock, ·who saves me […of my salvation]!
48 God gives me ·victory [revenge; vengeance] over my enemies
and brings ·people [the nations] under ·my rule [me].
49 He frees me from my enemies.
“You ·set me over those who hate me [exalt/lift me above my enemies].
You ·saved [rescued; T delivered] me from violent people.
50 So I will ·praise [extol] you, Lord, among the nations.
I will sing praises to your name.
51 The Lord ·gives great victories [is a tower of salvation] to his king.
He ·is loyal [shows kindness/faithful love] to his ·appointed king [anointed],
to David and his descendants forever.”
2 Samuel 22
New International Version
2 Samuel 22
New International Version
David’s Song of Praise(A)
22 David sang(B) to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:
“The Lord is my rock,(C) my fortress(D) and my deliverer;(E)
3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,(F)
my shield[a](G) and the horn[b](H) of my salvation.
He is my stronghold,(I) my refuge and my savior—
from violent people you save me.
4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy(J) of praise,
and have been saved from my enemies.
5 The waves(K) of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave(L) coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7 “In my distress(M) I called(N) to the Lord;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
8 The earth(O) trembled and quaked,(P)
the foundations(Q) of the heavens[c] shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire(R) came from his mouth,
burning coals(S) blazed out of it.
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds(T) were under his feet.
11 He mounted the cherubim(U) and flew;
he soared[d] on the wings of the wind.(V)
12 He made darkness(W) his canopy around him—
the dark[e] rain clouds of the sky.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning(X) blazed forth.
14 The Lord thundered(Y) from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
15 He shot his arrows(Z) and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke(AA) of the Lord,
at the blast(AB) of breath from his nostrils.
17 “He reached down from on high(AC) and took hold of me;
he drew(AD) me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued(AE) me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.(AF)
20 He brought me out into a spacious(AG) place;
he rescued(AH) me because he delighted(AI) in me.(AJ)
21 “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;(AK)
according to the cleanness(AL) of my hands(AM) he has rewarded me.
22 For I have kept(AN) the ways of the Lord;
I am not guilty of turning from my God.
23 All his laws are before me;(AO)
I have not turned(AP) away from his decrees.
24 I have been blameless(AQ) before him
and have kept myself from sin.
25 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,(AR)
according to my cleanness[f] in his sight.
26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure(AS) you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.(AT)
28 You save the humble,(AU)
but your eyes are on the haughty(AV) to bring them low.(AW)
29 You, Lord, are my lamp;(AX)
the Lord turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop[g];
with my God I can scale a wall.
31 “As for God, his way is perfect:(AY)
The Lord’s word is flawless;(AZ)
he shields(BA) all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock(BB) except our God?(BC)
33 It is God who arms me with strength[h]
and keeps my way secure.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;(BD)
he causes me to stand on the heights.(BE)
35 He trains my hands(BF) for battle;
my arms can bend a bow(BG) of bronze.
36 You make your saving help my shield;(BH)
your help has made[i] me great.
37 You provide a broad path(BI) for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.
38 “I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39 I crushed(BJ) them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
40 You armed me with strength for battle;
you humbled my adversaries before me.(BK)
41 You made my enemies turn their backs(BL) in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
42 They cried for help,(BM) but there was no one to save them—(BN)
to the Lord, but he did not answer.(BO)
43 I beat them as fine as the dust(BP) of the earth;
I pounded and trampled(BQ) them like mud(BR) in the streets.
44 “You have delivered(BS) me from the attacks of the peoples;
you have preserved(BT) me as the head of nations.
People(BU) I did not know now serve me,
45 foreigners cower(BV) before me;
as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.(BW)
46 They all lose heart;
they come trembling[j](BX) from their strongholds.
47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted(BY) be my God, the Rock, my Savior!(BZ)
48 He is the God who avenges(CA) me,(CB)
who puts the nations under me,
49 who sets me free from my enemies.(CC)
You exalted me(CD) above my foes;
from a violent man you rescued me.
50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing the praises(CE) of your name.(CF)
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 22:3 Or sovereign
- 2 Samuel 22:3 Horn here symbolizes strength.
- 2 Samuel 22:8 Hebrew; Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:7) mountains
- 2 Samuel 22:11 Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also Psalm 18:10); most Hebrew manuscripts appeared
- 2 Samuel 22:12 Septuagint (see also Psalm 18:11); Hebrew massed
- 2 Samuel 22:25 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:24) to the cleanness of my hands
- 2 Samuel 22:30 Or can run through a barricade
- 2 Samuel 22:33 Dead Sea Scrolls, some Septuagint manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Psalm 18:32); Masoretic Text who is my strong refuge
- 2 Samuel 22:36 Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text shield; / you stoop down to make
- 2 Samuel 22:46 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also Psalm 18:45); Masoretic Text they arm themselves
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