Passage

2 Samuel 22

Book: 2 Samuel · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. And David spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2. and he said, Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; 3. God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence. 4. I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5. For the waves of death compassed me; The floods of ungodliness made me afraid: 6. The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me. 7. In my distress I called upon Jehovah; Yea, I called unto my God: And he heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry came into his ears. 8. Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth. 9. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. 10. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet. 11. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 12. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 13. At the brightness before him Coals of fire were kindled. 14. Jehovah thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice. 15. And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and discomfited them. 16. Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17. He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters; 18. He delivered me from my strong enemy, From them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me. 19. They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay. 20. He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21. Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22. For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God. 23. For all his ordinances were before me; And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24. I was also perfect toward him; And I kept myself from mine iniquity. 25. Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. 26. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect; 27. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward. 28. And the afflicted people thou wilt save; But thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 29. For thou art my lamp, O Jehovah; And Jehovah will lighten my darkness. 30. For by thee I run upon a troop; By my God do I leap over a wall. 31. As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him. 32. For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, save our God? 33. God is my strong fortress; And he guideth the perfect in his way. 34. He maketh his feet like hinds' feet, And setteth me upon my high places. 35. He teacheth my hands to war, So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass. 36. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy gentleness hath made me great. 37. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; And my feet have not slipped. 38. I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 39. And I have consumed them, and smitten them through, so that they cannot arise: Yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 41. Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me. 42. They looked, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not. 43. Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad. 44. Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people; Thou hast kept me to be the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me. 45. The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. 46. The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places. 47. Jehovah liveth; And blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48. Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And that bringeth down peoples under me, 49. And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man. 50. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name. 51. Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore." (2 Samuel 22:1-51, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, 2. and he said: “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; 3. God is my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence. 4. I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 5. For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 6. The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me. 7. In my distress, I called on Yahweh. Yes, I called to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears. 8. Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. 9. Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. 10. He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. 11. He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind. 12. He made darkness a shelter around himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13. At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled. 14. Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice. 15. He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them. 16. Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by Yahweh’s rebuke, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17. He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters. 18. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. 19. They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support. 20. He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21. Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands. 22. For I have kept Yahweh’s ways, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23. For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24. I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity. 25. Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight. 26. With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. 27. With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. 28. You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down. 29. For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness. 30. For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. 31. As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. 32. For who is God, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God? 33. God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect. 34. He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places. 35. He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of brass. 36. You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great. 37. You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped. 38. I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn’t turn again until they were consumed. 39. I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can’t arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet. 40. For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 41. You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me. 42. They looked, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them. 43. Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad. 44. You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me. 45. The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me. 46. The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places. 47. Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation, 48. even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me, 49. who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. 50. Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name. 51. He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.”" (2 Samuel 22:1-51, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"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: 2. And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 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. 4. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; ^{waves: or, pangs} ^{ungodly: Heb. Belial} 6. The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; ^{sorrows: or, cords} 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. 8. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. 9. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. ^{out of his nostrils: Heb. by, etc} 10. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. 11. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 12. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. ^{dark: Heb. binding of waters} 13. Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. 14. The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. 15. And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited 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. 17. He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; ^{many: or, great} 18. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. 19. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 20. He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23. For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24. I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. ^{before: Heb. to} 25. Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. ^{in: Heb. before his eyes} 26. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. ^{shew thyself unsavoury: or, wrestle} 28. And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 29. For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. ^{lamp: or, candle} 30. For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. ^{run: or, broken} 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. ^{tried: or, refined} 32. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? 33. God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. ^{maketh: Heb. riddeth, or, looseth} 34. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places. ^{maketh: Heb. equalleth} 35. He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. ^{to war: Heb. for the war} 36. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. ^{made: Heb. multiplied me} 37. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. ^{feet: Heb. ankles} 38. I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. 39. And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40. For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. ^{subdued: Heb. caused to bow} 41. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. 42. They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. 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. 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. 45. Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. ^{Strangers: Heb. Sons of the stranger} ^{submit: or, yield feigned obedience: Heb. lie} 46. Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. 47. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 48. It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, ^{avengeth: Heb. giveth avengement for} 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. 50. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. 51. He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore." (2 Samuel 22:1-51, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. And David speaketh to Jehovah the words of this song in the day Jehovah hath delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, 2. and he saith: 'Jehovah [is] my rock, And my bulwark, and a deliverer to me, 3. My God [is] my rock, I take refuge in Him; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, My high tower, and my refuge! My Saviour, from violence Thou savest me! 4. The Praised One, I call Jehovah: And from mine enemies I am saved. 5. When the breakers of death compassed me, The streams of the worthless terrify me, 6. The cords of Sheol have surrounded me, Before me have been the snares of death. 7. In mine adversity I call Jehovah, And unto my God I call, And He heareth from His temple my voice, And my cry [is] in His ears, 8. And shake and tremble doth the earth, Foundations of the heavens are troubled, And are shaken, for He hath wrath! 9. Gone up hath smoke by His nostrils. And fire from His mouth devoureth, Brands have been kindled by it. 10. And He inclineth heaven, and cometh down, And thick darkness [is] under His feet. 11. And He rideth on a cherub, and doth fly, And is seen on the wings of the wind. 12. And He setteth darkness Round about Him, tabernacles, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. 13. From the brightness before Him Were brands of fire kindled! 14. Thunder from the heavens doth Jehovah, And the Most High giveth forth His voice. 15. And He sendeth forth arrows, And scattereth them; Lightning, and troubleth them; 16. And seen are the streams of the sea, Revealed are foundations of the world, By the rebuke of Jehovah, From the breath of the spirit of His anger. 17. He sendeth from above, He taketh me, He draweth me out of many waters. 18. He delivereth me from my strong enemy, From those hating me, For they were stronger than I. 19. They are before me in a day of my calamity, And Jehovah is my support, 20. And He bringeth me out to a large place, He draweth me out for He delighted in me. 21. Jehovah recompenseth me, According to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands, He doth return to me. 22. For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not done wickedly against my God. 23. For all His judgments [are] before me, As to His statutes, I turn not from them. 24. And I am perfect before Him, And I keep myself from mine iniquity. 25. And Jehovah returneth to me, According to my righteousness, According to my cleanness before His eyes. 26. With the kind Thou shewest Thyself kind, With the perfect man Thou shewest Thyself perfect, 27. With the pure Thou shewest Thyself pure, And with the perverse Thou shewest Thyself a wrestler. 28. And the poor people Thou dost save, And Thine eyes on the high causest to fall. 29. For Thou [art] my lamp, O Jehovah, And Jehovah doth lighten my darkness. 30. For by Thee I run, a troop, By my God I leap a wall. 31. God! Perfect [is] His way, The saying of Jehovah is tried, A shield He [is] to all those trusting in Him. 32. For who is God save Jehovah? And who a Rock save our God? 33. God, my bulwark, [my] strength, And He maketh perfect my way; 34. Making my feet like hinds, And on my high places causeth me to stand, 35. Teaching my hands for battle, And brought down was a bow of brass by mine arms, 36. And Thou givest to me the shield of Thy salvation, And Thy lowliness maketh me great. 37. Thou enlargest my step under me, And mine ankles have not slidden. 38. I pursue mine enemies and destroy them, And I turn not till they are consumed. 39. And I consume them, and smite them, And they rise not, and fall under my feet. 40. And Thou girdest me [with] strength for battle, Thou causest my withstanders to bow under me. 41. And mine enemies, Thou givest to me the neck, Those hating me, and I cut them off. 42. They look, and there is no saviour; Unto Jehovah, and He hath not answered them. 43. And I beat them as dust of the earth, As mire of the streets I beat them small, I spread them out! 44. And, Thou dost deliver me From the strivings of my people, Thou placest me for a head of nations; A people I have not known do serve me. 45. Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me, At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me. 46. Sons of a stranger fade away, And gird themselves by their close places. 47. Jehovah liveth, and blessed [is] my Rock, And exalted is my God, The Rock of my salvation. 48. God, who is giving vengeance to me, And bringing down peoples under me, 49. And bringing me forth from mine enemies, Yea, above my withstanders Thou raisest me up. From a man of violence Thou deliverest me. 50. Therefore I confess Thee, O Jehovah, among nations. And to Thy name I sing praise. 51. Magnifying the salvations of His king, And doing loving-kindness to His anointed, To David, and to his seed, unto the age!'" (2 Samuel 22:1-51, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

TBD
TBD
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Quoted in

H4899 - mashiach

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.