Bible Verses About Select Readings: Man in extremity

For the leader. By David the servant of ADONAI, who addressed the words of this song to ADONAI on the day when ADONAI delivered him from the power of all his enemies, including from the power of Sha'ul. He said: "I love you, ADONAI, my strength!

"ADONAI is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer, my God, my Rock, in whom I find shelter, my shield, the power that saves me, my stronghold.

I call on ADONAI, who is worthy of praise; and I am saved from my enemies.

"For the cords of death surrounded me, the floods of B'liya'al terrified me,

the ropes of Sh'ol were wrapped around me, the snares of death lay there before me.

In my distress I called to ADONAI; I cried out to my God. Out of his temple he heard my voice; my cry reached his ears.

"Then the earth quaked and shook, the foundations of the mountains trembled. They were shaken because he was angry.

Smoke arose in his nostrils; out of his mouth came devouring fire; sparks blazed forth from him.

He lowered heaven and came down with thick darkness under his feet.

He rode on a keruv; he flew, swooping down on the wings of the wind.

He made darkness his hiding-place, his canopy thick clouds dark with water.

From the brightness before him, there broke through his thick clouds hailstones and fiery coals.

"ADONAI also thundered in heaven, Ha'Elyon sounded his voice -hailstones and fiery coals.

He sent out arrows and scattered them, shot out lightning and routed them.

The channels of water appeared, the foundations of the world were exposed at your rebuke, ADONAI, at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

"He sent from on high, he took me and pulled me out of deep water;

he rescued me from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me, for they were stronger than I.

They came against me on my day of disaster, but ADONAI was my support.

He brought me out to an open place; he rescued me, because he took pleasure in me.