📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 22 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Samuel 22:1 And RDavid 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 Samuel 22:2 RAnd he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
2 Samuel 22:3 The God of my rock; Rin 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.
2 Samuel 22:4 RI will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
2 Samuel 22:5 When the RTwaves of death compassed me, the floods of Tungodly men made me afraid;
2 Samuel 22:6 The RTsorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
2 Samuel 22:7 In Rmy 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.
2 Samuel 22:8 Then Rthe earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
2 Samuel 22:9 There Rwent up a smoke Tout of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
2 Samuel 22:10 He Rbowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
2 Samuel 22:11 And he rode upon Ra cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
2 Samuel 22:12 And he Rmade darkness pavilions round about him, Tdark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
2 Samuel 22:13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
2 Samuel 22:14 The LORD Rthundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
2 Samuel 22:15 And he sent out Rarrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
2 Samuel 22:16 And Rthe 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.
2 Samuel 22:17 He Rsent from above, he took me; he drew me out of Tmany waters;
2 Samuel 22:18 He Rdelivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
2 Samuel 22:19 They Rprevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
2 Samuel 22:20 He Rbrought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
2 Samuel 22:21 The LORD Rrewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
2 Samuel 22:22 For RI have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
2 Samuel 22:23 RFor all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
2 Samuel 22:24 I was also Rupright Tbefore him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
2 Samuel 22:25 Therefore the LORD hath Rrecompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness Tin his eye sight.
2 Samuel 22:26 With Rthe merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
2 Samuel 22:27 With Rthe pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt Tshew thyself unsavoury.
2 Samuel 22:28 And the Rafflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
2 Samuel 22:29 For thou art my RTlamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
2 Samuel 22:30 For by thee I have RTrun through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, Rhis way is perfect; the word of the LORD is Ttried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
2 Samuel 22:32 RFor who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
2 Samuel 22:33 God is my Rstrength and power: and he Tmaketh my way perfect.
2 Samuel 22:34 He Tmaketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and Rsetteth me upon my high places.
2 Samuel 22:35 He Rteacheth my hands Tto war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
2 Samuel 22:36 Thou hast also given me Rthe shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath Tmade me great.
2 Samuel 22:37 Thou hast Renlarged my steps under me; so that my Tfeet did not slip.
2 Samuel 22:38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
2 Samuel 22:39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
2 Samuel 22:40 For thou hast Rgirded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou Tsubdued under me.
2 Samuel 22:41 Thou hast also given me the Rnecks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
2 Samuel 22:42 They looked, but there was none to save; even Runto the LORD, but he answered them not.
2 Samuel 22:43 Then did I beat them Ras small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
2 Samuel 22:44 Thou also hast Rdelivered 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.
2 Samuel 22:45 RTStrangers shall Tsubmit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
2 Samuel 22:46 Strangers shall Rfade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
2 Samuel 22:47 The RLORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
2 Samuel 22:48 It is God that RTavengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me.
2 Samuel 22:49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Rthou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
2 Samuel 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, Ramong the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
2 Samuel 22:51 He is Rthe tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 22:1–20 — A song of refuge and rescue
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David praises the LORD as rock, fortress, shield, and deliverer. He recalls distress and uses powerful poetic images of earth, storm, and waters to celebrate God’s intervention. Read these images as the language of a song, not as a chronological report of a single weather event. David credits God with rescue from enemies stronger than himself.
Key Truth: Bring distress to God and remember His faithfulness with gratitude.
Check What You Remember
1. Whom does David call his rock and fortress? (2 Samuel 22:2)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:2 (KJV).
2. What did David do in his distress? (2 Samuel 22:7)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:7 (KJV).
3. From what does David say God drew him? (2 Samuel 22:17)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:17 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 22:21–37 — Integrity, humility, and God-given strength
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David describes faithfulness to God’s ways and celebrates mercy toward the merciful and help for the afflicted. These lines must be read alongside the book’s clear record of his sins; they do not establish that he never sinned. He calls God his lamp and strength and credits God’s gentleness with making him great.
Key Truth: Praise God without using testimony to deny the need for repentance.
Check What You Remember
1. Whose ways does David say he kept? (2 Samuel 22:22)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:22 (KJV).
2. Whom does God bring down in verse 28? (2 Samuel 22:28)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:28 (KJV).
3. What does David call the LORD in verse 29? (2 Samuel 22:29)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:29 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 22:38–51 — Victory and thanksgiving among the nations
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David recalls victory and the extension of his rule, then turns to thanks and praise. The song’s military imagery belongs to his royal experience; it is not a command for believers to destroy personal enemies. The final verse celebrates God’s mercy to David and his seed.
Key Truth: The proper end of remembering deliverance is grateful praise.
Check What You Remember
1. Who is the rock of David’s salvation? (2 Samuel 22:47)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:47 (KJV).
2. Among whom does David say he will give thanks? (2 Samuel 22:50)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:50 (KJV).
3. To whom does the closing verse say God shows mercy? (2 Samuel 22:51)
Find it in 2 Samuel 22:51 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 18:2 — This psalm closely parallels David’s song and its language of refuge.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What names or images in this song help you express trust in God? Write a prayer of thanks that also leaves room for honest confession.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What occasion frames David’s song?
2. How does the song link distress with the LORD’s response?
3. How does David explain being brought into a large place?
4. What contrast does David draw about the afflicted and haughty?
5. How does the closing praise extend beyond David’s own present rescue?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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