World English Bible · The united kingdom
2 Samuel 22
Touch any underlined name to see who or where it is. Tap a verse number to see where it is taken up elsewhere.
spoke to the words of this song in the day that him out of the hand of all his , and out of the hand of , and he said: " is , my , and my deliverer, even mine; is in whom I take refuge; my shield, and of my , my high tower, and my refuge. My , you me from . I call on , who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be from . For the waves of surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The cords of were around me. The snares of caught me. In my distress, I called on . Yes, I called to my . He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry came into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. Smoke went up out of his nostrils. came out of his . Coals were kindled by it. He bowed also, and came down. Thick was . He rode on a , and flew. Yes, he was seen on the of the wind. He made a shelter around himself, gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness before him, coals of were kindled. thundered from . uttered his voice. He sent out arrows and scattered them, lightning and confused them. Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid by rebuke, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters. He me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They came on me in the day of my calamity, but was my support. He also brought me out into a large place. He me, because he delighted in me. rewarded me according to my . He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands. For I have kept ways, and have not wickedly departed from my . For all his ordinances were before me. As for his , I didn't depart from them. I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my . Therefore has rewarded me according to my , According to my cleanness in his eyesight. With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect. With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. You will people, but your eyes are on the arrogant, that you may bring them down. For you are my lamp, . will up my . For by you, I run against a troop. By my , I leap over a wall. As for , his way is perfect. word is . He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. For who is , besides ? Who is a , besides our ? is my strong . He makes my way perfect. He makes his feet like hinds' feet, and sets me on my . He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of your . Your gentleness has made me great. You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped. I have pursued and destroyed them. I didn't turn again until they were consumed. I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can't arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet. For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also made turn their backs to me, that I might those who hate me. They looked, but there was no one to ; even to , but he didn't answer them. Then I beat them as small as of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad. You also have 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 me. The will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will me. The will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places. lives! be ! Exalted be , of my , even the who executes for me, who brings down peoples under me, who brings me away from . Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You me from the man. Therefore I will to you, , among the nations, and will sing to your name. He gives great to his king, and shows to his , to and to his , more."
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · The united kingdom, 1050 BC to 931 BC ›
Saul, David, and Solomon. A rare window when both Egypt and Mesopotamia are weak, which is how a small kingdom in the corridor between them could briefly become a regional power.
- The power vacuum
- This is the whole political explanation for the united kingdom. Egypt is fragmented, Assyria is recovering but still local, the Hittites are gone, and nobody is in a position to object to a strong state in the corridor. It lasts about a century, and Israel's golden age fits exactly inside it.
- Phoenicia
- Tyre under Hiram is the commercial power of the coast, and supplies the cedar, the craftsmen, and the shipping for Solomon's building programme. The alliance is trade, not charity: Israel had grain and a land route, Tyre had timber and ships.
- Egypt
- Weak enough that a pharaoh gives a daughter in marriage to an Israelite king, which is the opposite of Egyptian practice in stronger centuries. Late in the era it recovers under a new house, and Shishak will invade within five years of Solomon's death.
- Further afield
- Greece is still in its dark age but beginning to recover, and will adopt the Phoenician alphabet within a century or two. Carthage is founded by settlers from Tyre by tradition in 814 BC. In the Americas the Olmec centre shifts to La Venta.