La royauté
David's Song of Victory
David offers a great song of praise to the Lord, thanking him for delivering him from all his enemies and from Saul's hand. The song describes the Lord's mighty intervention in nature, David's own righteousness, and God's faithfulness toward the anointed king and his descendants.
2 Samuel 22,1-51
1David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר דָּוִד֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את בְּיוֹם֩ הִצִּ֨יל יְהוָ֥ה אֹת֛וֹ מִכַּ֥ף כָּל־אֹיְבָ֖יו וּמִכַּ֥ף שָׁאֽוּל׃
2He said: The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר יְהוָ֛ה סַֽלְעִ֥י וּמְצֻדָתִ֖י וּמְפַלְטִי־לִֽי׃
3my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior—you save me from violence.
אֱלֹהֵ֥י צוּרִ֖י אֶחֱסֶה־בּ֑וֹ מָגִנִּ֞י וְקֶ֣רֶן יִשְׁעִ֗י מִשְׂגַּבִּי֙ וּמְנוּסִ֔י מֹשִׁעִ֕י מֵחָמָ֖ס תֹּשִׁעֵֽנִי׃
4I call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
מְהֻלָּ֖ל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וּמֵאֹיְבַ֖י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃
5The waves of death engulfed me; the torrents of destruction terrified me.
כִּ֥י אֲפָפֻ֖נִי מִשְׁבְּרֵי־מָ֑וֶת נַחֲלֵ֥י בְלִיַּ֖עַל יְבַעֲתֻֽנִי׃
6The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
חֶבְלֵ֥י שְׁא֖וֹל סַבֻּ֑נִי קִדְּמֻ֖נִי מֹֽ[m]קְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃
7In my distress I called on the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry reached his ears.
בַּצַּר־לִי֙ אֶקְרָ֣א יְהוָ֔ה וְאֶל־אֱלֹהַ֖י אֶקְרָ֑א וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע מֵהֵֽיכָלוֹ֙ קוֹלִ֔י וְשַׁוְעָתִ֖י בְּאָזְנָֽיו׃
8Then the earth reeled and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and shook, because he was angry.
*ותגעש **וַיִּתְגָּעַ֤שׁ וַתִּרְעַשׁ֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ מוֹסְד֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם יִרְגָּ֑זוּ וַיִּֽתְגָּעֲשׁ֖וּ כִּֽי־חָ֥רָה לֽוֹ׃
9Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, and burning coals blazed out of it.
עָלָ֤ה עָשָׁן֙ בְּאַפּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֥שׁ מִפִּ֖יו תֹּאכֵ֑ל גֶּחָלִ֖ים בָּעֲר֥וּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
10He parted the heavens and came down, with dark clouds beneath his feet.
וַיֵּ֥ט שָׁמַ֖יִם וַיֵּרַ֑ד וַעֲרָפֶ֖ל תַּ֥חַת רַגְלָֽיו׃
11He mounted a cherub and flew; he appeared on the wings of the wind.
וַיִּרְכַּ֥ב עַל־כְּר֖וּב וַיָּעֹ֑ף וַיֵּרָ֖א עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃
12He made darkness his canopy around him—a mass of water, thick clouds of the sky.
וַיָּ֥שֶׁת חֹ֛שֶׁךְ סְבִיבֹתָ֖יו סֻכּ֑וֹת חַֽשְׁרַת־מַ֖יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים׃
13Out of the brightness before him blazed coals of fire.
מִנֹּ֖גַהּ נֶגְדּ֑וֹ בָּעֲר֖וּ גַּחֲלֵי־אֵֽשׁ׃
14The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High let his voice resound.
יַרְעֵ֥ם מִן־שָׁמַ֖יִם יְהוָ֑ה וְעֶלְי֖וֹן יִתֵּ֥ן קוֹלֽוֹ׃
15He shot his arrows and scattered them, sent lightning and routed them.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח חִצִּ֖ים וַיְפִיצֵ֑ם בָּרָ֖ק *ויהמם **וַיָּהֹֽם׃
16The channels of the sea were laid bare, the foundations of the world uncovered, at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
וַיֵּֽרָאוּ֙ אֲפִ֣קֵי יָ֔ם יִגָּל֖וּ מֹסְד֣וֹת תֵּבֵ֑ל בְּגַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה מִנִּשְׁמַ֖ת ר֥וּחַ אַפּֽוֹ׃
17He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
יִשְׁלַ֥ח מִמָּר֖וֹם יִקָּחֵ֑נִי יַֽמְשֵׁ֖נִי מִמַּ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃
18He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
יַצִּילֵ֕נִי מֵאֹיְבִ֖י עָ֑ז מִשֹּׂ֣נְאַ֔י כִּ֥י אָמְצ֖וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
19They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.
יְקַדְּמֻ֖נִי בְּי֣וֹם אֵידִ֑י וַיְהִ֧י יְהוָ֛ה מִשְׁעָ֖ן לִֽי׃
20He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
וַיֹּצֵ֥א לַמֶּרְחָ֖ב אֹתִ֑י יְחַלְּצֵ֖נִי כִּי־חָ֥פֵֽץ בִּֽי׃
21The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
יִגְמְלֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֖ה כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י כְּבֹ֥ר יָדַ֖י יָשִׁ֥יב לִֽי׃
22For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God.
כִּ֥י שָׁמַ֖רְתִּי דַּרְכֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א רָשַׁ֖עְתִּי מֵאֱלֹהָֽי׃
23All his judgments are before me; I have not turned away from his statutes.
כִּ֥י כָל־*משפטו **מִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו לְנֶגְדִּ֑י וְחֻקֹּתָ֖יו לֹא־אָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
24I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
וָאֶהְיֶ֥ה תָמִ֖ים ל֑וֹ וָאֶשְׁתַּמְּרָ֖ה מֵעֲוֺנִֽי׃
25The LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
וַיָּ֧שֶׁב יְהוָ֛ה לִ֖י כְּצִדְקָתִ֑י כְּבֹרִ֖י לְנֶ֥גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃
26To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless warrior you show yourself blameless,
עִם־חָסִ֖יד תִּתְחַסָּ֑ד עִם־גִּבּ֥וֹר תָּמִ֖ים תִּתַּמָּֽם׃
27to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
עִם־נָבָ֖ר תִּתָּבָ֑ר וְעִם־עִקֵּ֖שׁ תִּתַּפָּֽל׃
28You save an afflicted people, but your eyes are on the haughty, and you bring them low.
וְאֶת־עַ֥ם עָנִ֖י תּוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְעֵינֶ֥יךָ עַל־רָמִ֖ים תַּשְׁפִּֽיל׃
29You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה נֵירִ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וַיהוָ֖ה יַגִּ֥יהַּ חָשְׁכִּֽי׃
30With you I can charge a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
כִּ֥י בְכָ֖ה אָר֣וּץ גְּד֑וּד בֵּאלֹהַ֖י אֲדַלֶּג־שֽׁוּר׃
31As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
הָאֵ֖ל תָּמִ֣ים דַּרְכּ֑וֹ אִמְרַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ צְרוּפָ֔ה מָגֵ֣ן ה֔וּא לְכֹ֖ל הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃
32For who is God besides the LORD? And who is a rock except our God?
כִּ֥י מִי־אֵ֖ל מִבַּלְעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וּמִ֥י צ֖וּר מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֥י אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
33God is my strong fortress; he makes my way perfect.
הָאֵ֥ל מָעוּזִּ֖י חָ֑יִל וַיַּתֵּ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים *דרכו **דַּרְכִּֽי׃
34He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he sets me secure on the heights.
מְשַׁוֶּ֥ה *רגליו **רַגְלַ֖י כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת וְעַ֥ל בָּמוֹתַ֖י יַעֲמִדֵֽנִי׃
35He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
מְלַמֵּ֥ד יָדַ֖י לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְנִחַ֥ת קֶֽשֶׁת־נְחוּשָׁ֖ה זְרֹעֹתָֽי׃
36You have given me the shield of your salvation; your help has made me great.
וַתִּתֶּן־לִ֖י מָגֵ֣ן יִשְׁעֶ֑ךָ וַעֲנֹתְךָ֖ תַּרְבֵּֽנִי׃
37You widen the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not give way.
תַּרְחִ֥יב צַעֲדִ֖י תַּחְתֵּ֑נִי וְלֹ֥א מָעֲד֖וּ קַרְסֻלָּֽי׃
38I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until they were wiped out.
אֶרְדְּפָ֥ה אֹיְבַ֖י וָאַשְׁמִידֵ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָשׁ֖וּב עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם׃
39I consumed them and crushed them; they could not rise—they fell beneath my feet.
וָאֲכַלֵּ֥ם וָאֶמְחָצֵ֖ם וְלֹ֣א יְקוּמ֑וּן וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ תַּ֥חַת רַגְלָֽי׃
40You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow beneath me.
וַתַּזְרֵ֥נִי חַ֖יִל לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה תַּכְרִ֥יעַ קָמַ֖י תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃
41You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed those who hated me.
וְאֹ֣יְבַ֔י תַּ֥תָּה לִּ֖י עֹ֑רֶף מְשַׂנְאַ֖י וָאַצְמִיתֵֽם׃
42They looked for help, but no one saved them—to the LORD, but he did not answer.
יִשְׁע֖וּ וְאֵ֣ין מֹשִׁ֑יעַ אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָֽם׃
43I ground them fine as the dust of the earth; I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets.
וְאֶשְׁחָקֵ֖ם כַּעֲפַר־אָ֑רֶץ כְּטִיט־חוּצ֥וֹת אֲדִקֵּ֖ם אֶרְקָעֵֽם׃
44You delivered me from the strife of my people; you kept me as the head of nations. A people I did not know now serves me.
וַֽתְּפַלְּטֵ֔נִי מֵרִיבֵ֖י עַמִּ֑י תִּשְׁמְרֵ֙נִי֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ גּוֹיִ֔ם עַ֥ם לֹא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי יַעַבְדֻֽנִי׃
45Foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.
בְּנֵ֥י נֵכָ֖ר יִתְכַּֽחֲשׁוּ־לִ֑י לִשְׁמ֥וֹעַ אֹ֖זֶן יִשָּׁ֥מְעוּ לִֽי׃
46Foreigners lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.
בְּנֵ֥י נֵכָ֖ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ וְיַחְגְּר֖וּ מִמִּסְגְּרוֹתָֽם׃
47The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock of my salvation—
חַי־יְהוָ֖ה וּבָר֣וּךְ צוּרִ֑י וְיָרֻ֕ם אֱלֹהֵ֖י צ֥וּר יִשְׁעִֽי׃
48the God who avenges me, who brings peoples down under me,
הָאֵ֕ל הַנֹּתֵ֥ן נְקָמֹ֖ת לִ֑י וּמוֹרִ֥יד עַמִּ֖ים תַּחְתֵּֽנִי׃
49who sets me free from my enemies. You lift me above my adversaries; you rescue me from violent men.
וּמוֹצִיאִ֖י מֵאֹֽיְבָ֑י וּמִקָּמַי֙ תְּר֣וֹמְמֵ֔נִי מֵאִ֥ישׁ חֲמָסִ֖ים תַּצִּילֵֽנִי׃
50Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
עַל־כֵּ֛ן אוֹדְךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם וּלְשִׁמְךָ֖ אֲזַמֵּֽר׃
51He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.[^1]
[^1]: The written Hebrew form here can also be read "He is a tower of salvation for his king."
*מגדיל **מִגְדּ֖וֹל יְשׁוּע֣וֹת מַלְכּ֑וֹ וְעֹֽשֶׂה־חֶ֧סֶד לִמְשִׁיח֛וֹ לְדָוִ֥ד וּלְזַרְע֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ פ