To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David
, the servant
of the LORD
, who spake
unto the LORD
the words
of this song
in the day
that the LORD
delivered
him from the hand
of all his enemies
, and from the hand
of Saul
: And he said
, I will love
thee, O LORD
, my strength
.
The LORD is my rock
, and my fortress
, and my deliverer
; my God
, my strength
, in whom I will trust
; my buckler
, and the horn
of my salvation
, and my high tower
.
I will call upon the LORD
, who is worthy to be praised
: so shall I be saved
from mine enemies
.
The sorrows of death
compassed
me, and the floods
of ungodly men
made me afraid
.
The sorrows of hell
compassed me about
: the snares
of death
prevented
me.
In my distress I called
upon the LORD
, and cried
unto my God
: he heard
my voice
out of his temple
, and my cry
came
before
him, even into his ears
.
Then the earth shook
and trembled
; the foundations
also of the hills
moved
and were shaken
, because he was wroth
.
There went up a smoke
out of his nostrils
, and fire
out of his mouth
devoured
: coals
were kindled
by it.
He bowed the heavens
also, and came down
: and darkness
was under his feet
.
And he rode upon a cherub
, and did fly
: yea, he did fly
upon the wings
of the wind
.
He made darkness
his secret place
; his pavilion
round about
him were dark
waters
and thick clouds
of the skies
.
At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds
passed
, hail
stones and coals
of fire
.
The LORD also thundered
in the heavens
, and the Highest
gave
his voice
; hail
stones and coals
of fire
.
Yea, he sent out his arrows
, and scattered
them; and he shot out
lightnings
, and discomfited
them.
Then the channels of waters
were seen
, and the foundations
of the world
were discovered
at thy rebuke
, O LORD
, at the blast
of the breath
of thy nostrils
.
He sent from above
, he took
me, he drew
me out of many
waters
.
He delivered me from my strong
enemy
, and from them which hated
me: for they were too strong
for me.
They prevented me in the day
of my calamity
: but the LORD
was my stay
.
He brought me forth also into a large place
; he delivered
me, because he delighted
in me.
The LORD rewarded
me according to my righteousness
; according to the cleanness
of my hands
hath he recompensed
me.
For I have kept the ways
of the LORD
, and have not wickedly departed
from my God
.
For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away
his statutes
from me.
I was also upright before him, and I kept
myself from mine iniquity
.
Therefore hath the LORD recompensed
me according to my righteousness
, according to the cleanness
of my hands
in his eyesight
.
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful
; with an upright
man
thou wilt shew thyself upright
;
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure
; and with the froward
thou wilt shew thyself froward
.
For thou wilt save the afflicted
people
; but wilt bring down
high
looks
.
For thou wilt light my candle
: the LORD
my God
will enlighten
my darkness
.
For by thee I have run through a troop
; and by my God
have I leaped over
a wall
.
As for God, his way
is perfect
: the word
of the LORD
is tried
: he is a buckler
to all those that trust
in him.
For who is God save
the LORD
? or who is a rock
save
our God
?
It is God that girdeth
me with strength
, and maketh
my way
perfect
.
He maketh my feet
like hinds
' feet , and setteth
me upon my high places
.
He teacheth my hands
to war
, so that a bow
of steel
is broken
by mine arms
.
Thou hast also given me the shield
of thy salvation
: and thy right hand
hath holden me up
, and thy gentleness
hath made me great
.
Thou hast enlarged my steps
under me, that my feet
did not slip
.
I have pursued mine enemies
, and overtaken
them: neither did I turn again
till they were consumed
.
I have wounded them that they were not able
to rise
: they are fallen
under my feet
.
For thou hast girded me with strength
unto the battle
: thou hast subdued
under me those that rose up
against me.
Thou hast also given me the necks
of mine enemies
; that I might destroy
them that hate
me.
They cried, but there was none to save
them: even unto the LORD
, but he answered
them not.
Then did I beat them small as the dust
before
the wind
: I did cast them out
as the dirt
in the streets
.
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings
of the people
; and thou hast made
me the head
of the heathen
: a people
whom I have not known
shall serve
me.
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey
me: the strangers
shall submit
themselves unto me.
The strangers shall fade away
, and be afraid
out of their close places
.
The LORD liveth
; and blessed
be my rock
; and let the God
of my salvation
be exalted
.
It is God that avengeth
me, and subdueth
the people
under me.
He delivereth me from mine enemies
: yea, thou liftest me up
above those that rise up
against me: thou hast delivered
me from the violent
man
.
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD
, among the heathen
, and sing praises
unto thy name
.
Great deliverance
giveth he to his king
; and sheweth
mercy
to his anointed
, to David
, and to his seed
for
evermore
.