David thanks the LORD for rescuing him from Saul and all his enemies, calling him his rock, fortress and deliverer. The psalm describes God's storm-like intervention and David's strength to win battles.
1 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 .
2 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 .
3 I will call upon the LORD , who is worthy to be praised : so shall I be saved from mine enemies .
4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid .
5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about : the snares of death prevented me.
6 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 .
7 Then the earth shook and trembled ; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken , because he was wroth .
8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils , and fire out of his mouth devoured : coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down : and darkness was under his feet .
10 And he rode upon a cherub , and did fly : yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind .
11 He made darkness his secret place ; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies .
12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed , hail stones and coals of fire .
13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens , and the Highest gave his voice ; hail stones and coals of fire .
14 Yea, he sent out his arrows , and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings , and discomfited them.
15 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 .
16 He sent from above , he took me, he drew me out of many waters .
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy , and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity : but the LORD was my stay .
19 He brought me forth also into a large place ; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness ; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD , and have not wickedly departed from my God .
22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity .
24 Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness , according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight .
25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful ; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright ;
26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure ; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward .
27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people ; but wilt bring down high looks .
28 For thou wilt light my candle : the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness .
29 For by thee I have run through a troop ; and by my God have I leaped over a wall .
30 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.
31 For who is God save the LORD ? or who is a rock save our God ?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength , and maketh my way perfect .
33 He maketh my feet like hinds ' feet, and setteth me upon my high places .
34 He teacheth my hands to war , so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms .
35 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 .
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip .
37 I have pursued mine enemies , and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed .
38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise : they are fallen under my feet .
39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle : thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies ; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They cried , but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD , but he answered them not.
42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind : I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets .
43 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.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45 The strangers shall fade away , and be afraid out of their close places .
46 The LORD liveth ; and blessed be my rock ; and let the God of my salvation be exalted .
47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48 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 .
49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD , among the heathen , and sing praises unto thy name .
50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king ; and sheweth mercy to his anointed , to David , and to his seed for evermore .