Psalms 7
1 A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Chusi the Benjamite. O Lord my God, in thee have I trusted: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.
Shiggaion of David; a song which he made to the Lord, about the words of Cush the Benjamite. O Lord my God, I put my faith in you; take me out of the hands of him who is cruel to me, and make me free;
2 Lest at any time [the enemy] seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.
So that he may not come rushing on my soul like a lion, wounding it, while there is no one to be my saviour.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this; (if there is unrighteousness in my hands; )
O Lord my God, if I have done this; if my hands have done any wrong;
4 if I have requited with evil those who requited me [with good]; may I then perish empty by means of my enemies.
If I have given back evil to him who did evil to me, or have taken anything from him who was against me without cause;
5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, an take it; and let him trample my life on the ground, and lay my glory in the dust. (Pause)
Let my hater go after my soul and take it; let my life be crushed to the earth, and my honour into the dust. (Selah)
6 Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath; be exalted in the utmost boundaries of mine enemies: awake, O Lord my God, according to the decree which thou didst command.
Come up, Lord, in your wrath; be lifted up against my haters; be awake, my God, give orders for the judging.
7 And the congregation of the nations shall compass thee: and for this cause do thou return on high.
The meeting of the nations will be round you; take your seat, then, over them, on high.
8 The Lord shall judge the nations: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my innocence that is in me.
The Lord will be judge of the peoples; give a decision for me, O Lord, because of my righteousness, and let my virtue have its reward.
9 Oh let the wickedness of sinners come to an end; and [then] thou shalt direct the righteous, O God that searchest the hearts and reins.
O let the evil of the evil-doer come to an end, but give strength to the upright: for men's minds and hearts are tested by the God of righteousness.
10 My help is righteous, [coming] from God who saves the upright in heart.
God, who is the saviour of the upright in heart, is my breastplate.
11 God is a righteous judge, and strong, and patient, not inflicting vengeance every day.
God is the judge of the upright, and is angry with the evil-doers every day.
12 If ye will not repent, he will furbish his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
If a man is not turned from his evil, he will make his sword sharp; his bow is bent and ready.
13 And on it he has fitted the instruments of death; he has completed his arrows for the raging ones.
He has made ready for him the instruments of death; he makes his arrows flames of fire.
14 Behold, he has travailed with unrighteousness, he has conceived trouble, and brought forth iniquity.
That man is a worker of evil; the seed of wrongdoing has given birth to deceit.
15 He has opened a pit, and dug it up, and he shall fall into the ditch which he has made.
He has made a hole deep in the earth, and is falling into the hole which he has made
16 His trouble shall return on his own head, and his unrighteousness shall come down on his own crown.
His wrongdoing will come back to him, and his violent behaviour will come down on his head.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord according to his righteousness; I will sing to the name of the Lord most high.
I will give praise to the Lord for his righteousness; I will make a song to the name of the Lord Most High.
