Psalms 7
1 A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Cush, the son of Jemini. O Lord, my God, in you I have hoped. Save me from all those who persecute me, and free 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, like a lion, he might seize my soul, while there is no one to redeem me, nor any who can 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 there is iniquity in my hands, if I have done this:
O Lord my God, if I have done this; if my hands have done any wrong;
4 if I have repaid those who rendered evils to me, may I deservedly fall away empty before 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 pursue my soul, and take hold of it, and trample my life into the earth, and drag down my glory into 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 Rise up, Lord, in your anger. And be exalted to the borders of my enemies. And rise up, O Lord my God, according to the precept that you commanded,
Come up, Lord, in your wrath; be lifted up against my haters; be awake, my God, give orders for the judging.
7 and a congregation of people will surround you. And, because of this, return on high.
The meeting of the nations will be round you; take your seat, then, over them, on high.
8 The Lord judges the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my justice and according to my innocence within 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 The wickedness of sinners will be consumed, and you will direct the just: the examiner of hearts and temperaments is God.
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 Just is my help from the Lord, who saves the upright of heart.
God, who is the saviour of the upright in heart, is my breastplate.
11 God is a just judge, strong and patient. How could he be angry throughout every day?
God is the judge of the upright, and is angry with the evil-doers every day.
12 Unless you will be converted, he will brandish his sword. He has extended 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 with it, he has prepared instruments of death. He has produced his arrows for those on fire.
He has made ready for him the instruments of death; he makes his arrows flames of fire.
14 Behold him who has given birth to injustice: he has conceived sorrow and has begotten iniquity.
That man is a worker of evil; the seed of wrongdoing has given birth to deceit.
15 He has opened a pit and enlarged it. And he has fallen into the hole that he made.
He has made a hole deep in the earth, and is falling into the hole which he has made
16 His sorrow will be turned upon his own head, and his iniquity will descend upon his highest point.
His wrongdoing will come back to him, and his violent behaviour will come down on his head.
17 I will confess to the Lord according to his justice, and I will sing a psalm 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.
