1 David sang the words of this song to the Lord. He sang them when the Lord saved him from the powerful hand of all of his enemies and of Saul.
2 He said, "The Lord is my rock and my fort. He is the One who saves me.
3 My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. He is like a shield to me. He's the power that saves me. He's my place of safety. I go to him for help. He's my Savior. He saves me from those who want to hurt me.
4 I call out to the Lord. He is worthy of praise. He saves me from my enemies.
5 "The waves of death were all around me. A destroying flood swept over me.
6 The ropes of the grave were tight around me. Death set its trap in front of me.
7 When I was in trouble I called out to the Lord. I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice. My cry for help reached his ears.
8 "The earth trembled and shook. The pillars of the heavens rocked back and forth. They trembled because the Lord was angry.
9 Smoke came out of his nose. Flames of fire came out of his mouth. Burning coals blazed out of it.
10 He opened the heavens and came down. Dark clouds were under his feet.
11 He got on the cherubim and flew. The wings of the wind lifted him up.
12 He covered himself with darkness. The dark rain clouds of the sky were like a tent around him.
13 From the brightness that was all around him flashes of lightning blazed out.
14 The Lord thundered from heaven. The voice of the Most High God was heard.
15 He shot his arrows and scattered our enemies. He sent flashes of lightning and chased the enemies away.
16 The bottom of the sea could be seen. The foundations of the earth were uncovered. It happened when the Lord's anger blazed out. It came like a blast of breath from his nose.
17 "He reached down from heaven. He took hold of me. He lifted me out of deep waters.
18 He saved me from my powerful enemies. He set me free from those who were too strong for me.
19 They stood up to me when I was in trouble. But the Lord helped me.
20 He brought me out into a wide and safe place. He saved me because he was pleased with me.
21 "The Lord has been good to me because I do what is right. He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life.
22 I have lived the way the Lord wanted me to. I haven't done evil by turning away from my God.
23 I keep all of his laws in mind. I haven't turned away from his commands.
24 He knows that I am without blame. He knows I've kept myself from sinning.
25 The Lord has rewarded me for doing what is right. He has rewarded me because I haven't done anything wrong.
26 "Lord, to those who are faithful you show that you are faithful. To those who are without blame you show that you are without blame.
27 To those who are pure you show that you are pure. But to those whose paths are crooked you show that you are clever.
28 You save those who aren't proud. But you watch the proud to bring them down.
29 Lord, you are my lamp. You bring light into my darkness.
30 With your help I can attack a troop of soldiers. With the help of my God I can climb over a wall.
31 "God's way is perfect. The word of the Lord doesn't have any flaws. He is like a shield to all who go to him for safety.
32 Who is God except the Lord? Who is the Rock except our God?
33 God gives me strength for the battle. He makes my way perfect.
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. He helps me stand on the highest places.
35 He trains my hands to fight every battle. My arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 Lord, you are like a shield that keeps me safe. You help me win the battle. You bend down to make me great.
37 You give me a wide path to walk in so that I don't twist my ankles.
38 "I chased my enemies and crushed them. I didn't turn back until they were destroyed.
39 I crushed them completely so that they couldn't get up. They fell under my feet.
40 Lord, you gave me strength to fight the battle. You made my enemies bow down at my feet.
41 You made them turn their backs and run away. So I destroyed my enemies.
42 They cried out for help. But there was no one to save them. They called out to you. But you didn't answer them.
43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth. I pounded them and walked on them like mud in the streets.
44 "You saved me when my own people attacked me. You have kept me as the ruler over nations. People I didn't know serve me now.
45 People from other lands bow down to me in fear. As soon as they hear me, they obey me.
46 All of them give up hope. They come trembling out of their hiding places.
47 "The Lord lives! Give praise to my Rock! Give honor to God, the Rock! He is my Savior!
48 He is the God who pays my enemies back. He brings the nations under my control.
49 He sets me free from my enemies. You have honored me more than them. You have saved me from men who want to hurt me.
50 Lord, I will praise you among the nations. I will sing praises to you.
51 You help me win great battles. You show your faithful love to your anointed king. You show it to me and my family forever."