A reading from the book of 2 Samuel.

And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered

him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

He said, The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.

My 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. I call upon the

Lord who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me, the cords

of She'ol entangled me, the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, to my God I called.

From his temple, he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.

Then the earth reeled and rocked.

The foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked because he was angry.

Smoke went up from his nostrils and devouring fire from his mouth,

glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew. He was seen on the wings of the wind. He made

darkness around him, his canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water. Out of the brightness before him

coals of fire flamed forth, the Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered his voice,

and he sent out arrows and scattered them, lightning and routed them. Then the channels

of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the

Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from on

high, he took me. He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those

who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity. But the Lord was my support.

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