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.
A psalm (shiggaion) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, from the tribe of Benjamin. Lord my God, you are my protection. Save me from those who persecute me; please rescue me!
2 Lest at any time [the enemy] seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.
Otherwise they will tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces with no one to save me.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this; (if there is unrighteousness in my hands; )
If I have done what I'm accused of, if my hands are guilty,
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 paid back a friend with evil, if I have robbed my enemy for no reason,
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)
Then let my enemies chase me down; let them trample me in the dust and drag my reputation through the dirt. (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.
Stand up, Lord, in your anger, rise up against the fury of my enemies; wake up, Lord, and bring me justice!
7 And the congregation of the nations shall compass thee: and for this cause do thou return on high.
Bring together the nations before you; rule them from your throne 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 judges all people. Defend me, Lord, because I do what is right, because of my integrity.
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.
Please bring an end to the evil done by the wicked; vindicate those who do good, for you are the God of right who examines hearts and minds.
10 My help is righteous, [coming] from God who saves the upright in heart.
The Most High God is my defense, the one who saves those who live right.
11 God is a righteous judge, and strong, and patient, not inflicting vengeance every day.
God is a fair judge who is always hostile to evil.
12 If ye will not repent, he will furbish his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
If people do not change their minds, he will sharpen his sword. He has bent and strung his bow.
13 And on it he has fitted the instruments of death; he has completed his arrows for the raging ones.
He has prepared weapons of death, he has his flaming arrows ready.
14 Behold, he has travailed with unrighteousness, he has conceived trouble, and brought forth iniquity.
See how the wicked conceive evil! They are pregnant with trouble. They give birth to dishonesty.
15 He has opened a pit, and dug it up, and he shall fall into the ditch which he has made.
They dig a deep hole to catch people, but then fall into it themselves.
16 His trouble shall return on his own head, and his unrighteousness shall come down on his own crown.
The trouble they cause rebounds to hit them on the head; their violence against others comes down on their own skulls.
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 thank the Lord because he does what is right; I will sing praises to the name of the Lord Most High.
