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 you have I trusted: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.
A meditation by David, which he sang to the LORD, concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite. LORD, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
2 Lest at any time [the enemy] seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.
lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this; (if there is unrighteousness in my hands; )
LORD, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,
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 rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have plundered him who without cause was my adversary),
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 the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. (Selah)
6 Arise, O Lord, in your wrath; be exalted in the utmost boundaries of mine enemies: awake, O Lord my God, according to the decree which you did command.
Arise, LORD, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgement.
7 And the congregation of the nations shall compass you: and for this cause do you return on high.
Let the congregation of the peoples surround you. Rule 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 administers judgement to the peoples. Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me.
9 Oh let the wickedness of sinners come to an end; and [then] you shall direct the righteous, O God that search the hearts and reins.
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.
10 My help is righteous, [coming] from God who saves the upright in heart.
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, and strong, and patient, not inflicting vengeance every day.
God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.
12 If you will not repent, he will furbish his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
If a man doesn’t repent, 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 also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Behold, he has travailed with unrighteousness, he has conceived trouble, and brought forth iniquity.
Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood.
15 He has opened a pit, and dug it up, and he shall fall into the ditch which he has made.
He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made.
16 His trouble shall return on his own head, and his unrighteousness shall come down on his own crown.
The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own 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 thanks to the LORD according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
