2 Samuel

Focuses on King David's reign, his troubles, successes, and the promise of his dynasty.

Chapter 22

1 And 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:

*David spoke to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord saved him from all his enemies and from Saul.

2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

*He said, "The LORD is my strong protection, my safe place, and my rescuer."

3 The 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.

*My Rock's God is my trust: He protects me, the strength of my rescue, my tall fortress, my safe haven, my hero; you save me from harm.

4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

*I will call on God, who deserves praise: this way, I'll be saved from my enemies.

5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

*When deadly waves surrounded me and wicked floods scared me.

6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

*Hell's sadness surrounded me; death's traps stopped me.

7 In 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.

*In trouble, I asked the LORD for help and yelled to my God. He heard my voice from his home, and my shout reached his ears.

8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

*Then the ground shook and quivered; the heavens' base shook too, as God was angry.

9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

*Smoke rose from his nose, and fire came out of his mouth, burning everything; flames were lit by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

*He bent the sky too and descended, with darkness beneath his feet.

11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

*He flew on a cherub and was visible on the wind's wings.

12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

*He created dark shelters all around with deep waters and dense clouds from the sky.

13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

*Ahead of him, there was brightness where fires were lit like glowing embers.

14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

*God boomed from the sky, and the highest power spoke loudly.

15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

*He shot arrows, scattering them, and used lightning to unsettle them.

16 And 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.

*The sea's paths became visible, and the world's base was revealed as the LORD scolded, with a powerful puff of air from his nose.

17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

*He sent someone from up high, and they saved me. They pulled me out from among lots of water.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

*He saved me from my powerful foe and those who disliked me; as they were too powerful for me.

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

*They stopped me when I faced trouble: but the LORD supported me.

20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

*He took me to a big area: he saved me because he really liked me.

21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

*The Lord paid me back based on my goodness: He has repaid me according to how clean my actions have been.

22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

*Because I followed God's path and didn't go wrong away from Him.

23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

*For everything he decided, I knew about it; and I always followed his rules.

24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

*I was always good in his eyes, and I've stayed away from doing wrong things.

25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

*So, the Lord has rewarded me based on my goodness; based on how pure I am in His eyes.

26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

*When you're kind to others, you'll be kind to yourself, and when you're honest with good people, you'll be honest in all situations.

27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

*When you are with good people, you will be good too; but when you are with bad people, you will be bad as well.

28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

*You will save the suffering people, but you watch the proud ones so you can make them fall.

29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

*Because you are my source of light, Lord: and the Lord will dispel my darkness.

30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

*Because of you, I have moved past a group of people; with my God, I have jumped over a barrier.

31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

*God's way is completely perfect. The Lord's words are true. He protects everyone who believes in him.

32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

*Who is God except the LORD? And who is like a rock except our God?

33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

*God gives me strength and might, making my path smooth and right.

34 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

*He makes my feet act like deer feet: and places me on high places.

35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

*He teaches me how to fight with my hands, making my arms so strong that they can easily break a metal bow.

36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

*You have also given me your saving protection, and your kindness has made me strong.

37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

*You have expanded my pathway, so I didn't slip.

38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

*I chased my opponents and defeated them, never stopping until I completely wiped them out.

39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

*I've defeated and hurt them so much they couldn't get up. Yes, they've fallen right at my feet.

40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

*Because you gave me the strength to fight, you have made those who opposed me submit to me.

41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

*You have also given me my enemies' necks so I can destroy those who hate me.

42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

*They searched, but no one came to help; they even turned to God, but he didn't respond.

43 Then 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.

*Then I made them tiny like dirt particles, I treated them like mud on the road, and scattered them far and wide.

44 Thou 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.

*You have saved me from the struggles of my people, and you have made me the leader over the non-believers. Now, a people I did not know are serving me.

45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

*Strangers will obey me once they listen: immediately after hearing, they will follow my commands.

46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

*Outsiders will disappear, and they will be scared in their hidden spots.

47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

*God is alive! Blessings to my rock! And praise to the God who saves me with that powerful rock.

48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,

*God is the one who avenges me and defeats the people beneath me.

49 And 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.

*And that saves me from my enemies: you also lift me up high above those who opposed me: you rescue me from the violent person.

50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

*So, I will thank you, God, in front of non-believers, and I will sing about how great you are.

51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

*He is the source of rescue for his ruler and shows kindness to his chosen one, David, and his descendants forever.

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