Fish the Right

2 Samuel 22

2 Samuel 22:1–37, World English Bible

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  1. 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. 2 and he said: “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;
  3. 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. 4 I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
  5. 5 For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
  6. 6 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death caught me.
  7. 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. 8 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
  9. 9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.
  10. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
  11. 11 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.
  12. 12 He made darkness a shelter around himself, gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
  13. 13 At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled.
  14. 14 Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice.
  15. 15 He sent out arrows and scattered them, lightning and confused them.
  16. 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. 17 He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters.
  18. 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
  19. 19 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
  20. 20 He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
  21. 21 Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.
  22. 22 For I have kept Yahweh’s ways, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
  23. 23 For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I didn’t depart from them.
  24. 24 I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
  25. 25 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.
  26. 26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect.
  27. 27 With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
  28. 28 You will save the afflicted people, but your eyes are on the arrogant, that you may bring them down.
  29. 29 For you are my lamp, Yahweh. Yahweh will light up my darkness.
  30. 30 For by you, I run against a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
  31. 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. 32 For who is God, besides Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God?
  33. 33 God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.
  34. 34 He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places.
  35. 35 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
  36. 36 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your gentleness has made me great.
  37. 37 You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped.

What others have written

8 passages from writers of 2 traditions, in their own words, each with their dates and tradition. The site doesn’t say who is right: read them beside the verses. About these

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  • Josephus37–c. 100JewishAntiquities of the Jews · on 2 Samuel 22:1And now David being freed from wars and dangers, and enjoying for the future a profound peace, composed songs and hymns to God of several sorts of metre; some of those which he made were trimeters, and some were pentameters. He also made instruments of music, and taught the Levites to sing hymns to God, both on that called the sabbath day, and on other festivals.
    And now David being freed from wars and dangers, and enjoying for the future a profound peace, composed songs and hymns to God of several sorts of metre; some of those which he made were trimeters, and some were pentameters. He also made instruments of music, and taught the Levites to sing hymns to God, both on that called the sabbath day, and on other festivals.

    Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Antiquities 7.12.3; translated by William Whiston (1737); the text of Project Gutenberg. The edition

    A Jewish priest from Jerusalem who fought Rome in the war of 66–70 and afterwards wrote the history of his people for Greek readers.

  • Matthew Henry1662–1714English PresbyterianCommentary on the Whole Bible · on 2 Samuel 22:5–7That the danger was very great and threatening out of which he was delivered. … This is expressed figuratively, Sa2 22:5, Sa2 22:6. He was surrounded with death on every side, threatened to be overwhelmed, and saw no way of escape. So violently did the waves of death beat upon him, so strongly did the cords and snares of death hold him, that he could not help himself, any more than a man in the grave can. … That his deliverance was an answer to prayer, Sa2 22:7. He has here left us a good example, when we are in distress, to cry unto God with importunity, as children in a fright cry to their parents; and great encouragement to do so, in that he found God ready to answer prayer out of his temple in heaven, where he is continually served and adored.
    That the danger was very great and threatening out of which he was delivered. … This is expressed figuratively, Sa2 22:5, Sa2 22:6. He was surrounded with death on every side, threatened to be overwhelmed, and saw no way of escape. So violently did the waves of death beat upon him, so strongly did the cords and snares of death hold him, that he could not help himself, any more than a man in the grave can. … That his deliverance was an answer to prayer, Sa2 22:7. He has here left us a good example, when we are in distress, to cry unto God with importunity, as children in a fright cry to their parents; and great encouragement to do so, in that he found God ready to answer prayer out of his temple in heaven, where he is continually served and adored.

    Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 22:2–51; 1706–1714; the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    An English Presbyterian minister whose commentary on the whole Bible Protestants have read for three centuries.

  • Matthew Henry1662–1714English PresbyterianCommentary on the Whole Bible · on 2 Samuel 22:26–28As God had dealt with him according to his uprightness, so he will with all others. He takes occasion here to lay down the established rules of God's procedure with the children of men: … That he will do good to those that are upright in their hearts. As we are found towards God, he will be found towards us. … God's mercy and grace will be the joy of those that are merciful and gracious. Even the merciful need mercy; and they shall obtain it. … God's uprightness, his justice and faithfulness, will be the joy of those that are upright, just, and faithful, both towards God and man. … God's purity and holiness will be the joy of those that are pure and holy, who therefore give thanks at the remembrance thereof. And, if any of these good people be afflicted people, he will save them, either out of their afflictions or by and after them.
    As God had dealt with him according to his uprightness, so he will with all others. He takes occasion here to lay down the established rules of God's procedure with the children of men: … That he will do good to those that are upright in their hearts. As we are found towards God, he will be found towards us. … God's mercy and grace will be the joy of those that are merciful and gracious. Even the merciful need mercy; and they shall obtain it. … God's uprightness, his justice and faithfulness, will be the joy of those that are upright, just, and faithful, both towards God and man. … God's purity and holiness will be the joy of those that are pure and holy, who therefore give thanks at the remembrance thereof. And, if any of these good people be afflicted people, he will save them, either out of their afflictions or by and after them.

    Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 22:2–51; 1706–1714; the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    An English Presbyterian minister whose commentary on the whole Bible Protestants have read for three centuries.

  • Matthew Henry1662–1714English PresbyterianCommentary on the Whole Bible · on 2 Samuel 22:33–36With advancement to honour and power. To this he was anointed before his troubles began, and at length, post tot discrimina rerum - after all his dangers and disasters, he gained his point. God made his way perfect (Sa2 22:33), gave him success in all his undertakings, set him upon his high places (Sa2 22:34), denoting both safety and dignity. God's gentleness, his grace and tender mercy, made him great (Sa2 22:36), gave him great wealth, and great authority, and a name like that of the great men of the earth.
    With advancement to honour and power. To this he was anointed before his troubles began, and at length, post tot discrimina rerum - after all his dangers and disasters, he gained his point. God made his way perfect (Sa2 22:33), gave him success in all his undertakings, set him upon his high places (Sa2 22:34), denoting both safety and dignity. God's gentleness, his grace and tender mercy, made him great (Sa2 22:36), gave him great wealth, and great authority, and a name like that of the great men of the earth.

    Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 22:2–51; 1706–1714; the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    An English Presbyterian minister whose commentary on the whole Bible Protestants have read for three centuries.

  • Keil and Delitzsch1807–1888 and 1813–1890LutheranBiblical Commentary on the Old Testament · on 2 Samuel 22:1The heading is formed precisely according to the introductory formula of the song of Moses in Deu 31:30, and was no doubt taken from the larger historical work employed by the author of our books. It was probably also adopted from this into the canonical collection of the Psalter, and simply brought into conformity with the headings of the other psalms … "In the day," i.e., at the time, "when Jehovah had delivered him." Deliverance "out of the hand of Saul" is specially mentioned, not because this was the last, but because it was the greatest and most glorious, - a deliverance out of the deepest misery into regal might and glory.
    The heading is formed precisely according to the introductory formula of the song of Moses in Deu 31:30, and was no doubt taken from the larger historical work employed by the author of our books. It was probably also adopted from this into the canonical collection of the Psalter, and simply brought into conformity with the headings of the other psalms … "In the day," i.e., at the time, "when Jehovah had delivered him." Deliverance "out of the hand of Saul" is specially mentioned, not because this was the last, but because it was the greatest and most glorious, - a deliverance out of the deepest misery into regal might and glory.

    Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, on 22:1; translated by James Martin and others (Edinburgh, 1866–1891); the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, two German Lutheran scholars of Hebrew whose commentary on the Old Testament is still read for its learning.

  • Keil and Delitzsch1807–1888 and 1813–1890LutheranBiblical Commentary on the Old Testament · on 2 Samuel 22:2–3This introduction contains the sum and substance of the whole psalm, inasmuch as David groups the many experiences of divine deliverance in his agitated life into a long series of predicates, in all of which he extols God as his defence, refuge, and deliverer. … The two epithets are borrowed from the natural character of Palestine, where steep and almost inaccessible rocks afford protection to the fugitive, as David had often found at the time when Saul was pursuing him (vid., Sa1 24:22; Sa1 22:5). But whilst David took refuge in rocks, he placed his hopes of safety not in their inaccessible character, but in God the Lord, the eternal spiritual rock, whom he could see in the earthly rock, so that he called Him his true castle.
    This introduction contains the sum and substance of the whole psalm, inasmuch as David groups the many experiences of divine deliverance in his agitated life into a long series of predicates, in all of which he extols God as his defence, refuge, and deliverer. … The two epithets are borrowed from the natural character of Palestine, where steep and almost inaccessible rocks afford protection to the fugitive, as David had often found at the time when Saul was pursuing him (vid., Sa1 24:22; Sa1 22:5). But whilst David took refuge in rocks, he placed his hopes of safety not in their inaccessible character, but in God the Lord, the eternal spiritual rock, whom he could see in the earthly rock, so that he called Him his true castle.

    Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, on 22:2–4; translated by James Martin and others (Edinburgh, 1866–1891); the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, two German Lutheran scholars of Hebrew whose commentary on the Old Testament is still read for its learning.

  • Keil and Delitzsch1807–1888 and 1813–1890LutheranBiblical Commentary on the Old Testament · on 2 Samuel 22:17–20The Lord stretched His hand from the height into the deep abysses, which had been uncovered through the threatening of the wrath of God, and drew out the sinking man. … ימשׁני, from משׁה (Exo 2:10), from which the name of Moses was derived, to whom there is probably an allusion made. As Moses was taken out of the waters of the Nile, so David was taken out of great (many) waters. … The "day of calamity" in which the enemy fell upon him … was the time when David wandered about in the desert helpless and homeless, fleeing from the pursuit of Saul. The Lord was then his support, or a staff on which he could support himself (vid., Psa 23:4), and led him out of the strait into the broad, i.e., into a broad space where he could move freely, because God had pleasure in him, and had chosen him in His grace to be His servant.
    The Lord stretched His hand from the height into the deep abysses, which had been uncovered through the threatening of the wrath of God, and drew out the sinking man. … ימשׁני, from משׁה (Exo 2:10), from which the name of Moses was derived, to whom there is probably an allusion made. As Moses was taken out of the waters of the Nile, so David was taken out of great (many) waters. … The "day of calamity" in which the enemy fell upon him … was the time when David wandered about in the desert helpless and homeless, fleeing from the pursuit of Saul. The Lord was then his support, or a staff on which he could support himself (vid., Psa 23:4), and led him out of the strait into the broad, i.e., into a broad space where he could move freely, because God had pleasure in him, and had chosen him in His grace to be His servant.

    Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, on 22:17–20; translated by James Martin and others (Edinburgh, 1866–1891); the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, two German Lutheran scholars of Hebrew whose commentary on the Old Testament is still read for its learning.

  • Keil and Delitzsch1807–1888 and 1813–1890LutheranBiblical Commentary on the Old Testament · on 2 Samuel 22:36–37The Lord bestows the true strength for victory in His salvation. The shield of salvation is the shield which consists of salvation, of the helping grace of the Lord. ענתך, for which we find in the psalm ענותך, thy humility, i.e., God's condescending grace, does not mean "thy humiliation," but "thy hearkening," i.e., that practical hearkening on the part of God, when called upon for help, which was manifested in the fact that God made his steps broad, i.e., provided the walker with a broad space for free motion, removing obstructions and stumbling-blocks out of the way.
    The Lord bestows the true strength for victory in His salvation. The shield of salvation is the shield which consists of salvation, of the helping grace of the Lord. ענתך, for which we find in the psalm ענותך, thy humility, i.e., God's condescending grace, does not mean "thy humiliation," but "thy hearkening," i.e., that practical hearkening on the part of God, when called upon for help, which was manifested in the fact that God made his steps broad, i.e., provided the walker with a broad space for free motion, removing obstructions and stumbling-blocks out of the way.

    Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, on 22:36–37; translated by James Martin and others (Edinburgh, 1866–1891); the text of the Free Use Bible API. The edition

    Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, two German Lutheran scholars of Hebrew whose commentary on the Old Testament is still read for its learning.