22:1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. 22:2 He said:
“The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. 22:3 My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, my stronghold, my refuge, my savior. You save me from violence.
22:4 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.
22:5 The waves of death engulfed me; the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.
22:6 The ropes of Sheol tightened around me; the snares of death trapped me.
22:7 In my distress I called to the Lord; I called to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.
22:8 The earth heaved and shook; the foundations of the sky trembled. They heaved because he was angry.
22:9 Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.
22:10 He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.
22:11 He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.
22:12 He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.
22:13 From the brightness in front of him came coals of fire.
22:14 The Lord thundered from the sky; the Sovereign One shouted.
22:15 He shot arrows and scattered them; lightning and routed them.
22:16 The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by the Lord’s battle cry, by the powerful breath from his nose.
22:17 He reached down from above and grabbed me; he pulled me from the surging water.
22:18 He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.
22:19 They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.