2 Samuel 22:21–40

²¹The Lord rewards me because I do what is right;

he blesses me because I am innocent.

²²I have obeyed the law of the Lord;

I have not turned away from my God.

²³I have observed all his laws;

I have not disobeyed his commands.

²⁴He knows that I am faultless,

that I have kept myself from doing wrong.

²⁵And so he rewards me because I do what is right,

because he knows that I am innocent.

²⁶O Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you,

and completely good to thoseⁱ who are perfect.

²⁷You are pure to those who are pure,

but hostile to those who are wicked.

²⁸You save those who are humble,

but you humble those who are proud.

²⁹You, Lord, are my light;

you dispel my darkness.

³⁰You give me strength to attack my enemies

and power to overcome their defences.

³¹This God—how perfect are his deeds,

how dependable his words!

He is like a shield

for all who seek his protection.

³²The Lord alone is God;

God alone is our defence.

³³This God is my strong refuge;

he makes^j my pathway safe.

^34*He makes me sure-footed as a deer;

he keeps me safe on the mountains.

³⁵He trains me for battle,

so that I can use the strongest bow.

³⁶O Lord, you protect me and save me;

your help has made me great.

³⁷You have kept me from being captured,

and I have never fallen.

³⁸I pursue my enemies and defeat them;

I do not stop until I destroy them.

³⁹I strike them down, and they cannot rise;

they lie defeated before me.

⁴⁰You give me strength for the battle

and victory over my enemies.