Psalms 7
1 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!
[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 Otherwise they will tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces with no one to save me.
lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
3 If I have done what I'm accused of, if my hands are guilty,
LORD, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,
4 If I have paid back a friend with evil, if I have robbed my enemy for no reason,
if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me, or oppressed my enemy without cause,
5 Then let my enemies chase me down; let them trample me in the dust and drag my reputation through the dirt. (Selah)
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 Stand up, Lord, in your anger, rise up against the fury of my enemies; wake up, Lord, and bring me justice!
Arise, LORD, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake, my God; you have appointed judgment.
7 Bring together the nations before you; rule them from your throne on high.
And let the congregation of the peoples surround you, and rule over them on high.
8 The Lord judges all people. Defend me, Lord, because I do what is right, because of my integrity.
The LORD administers judgment to the peoples. Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me.
9 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.
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The righteous God tests hearts and minds.
10 The Most High God is my defense, the one who saves those who live right.
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a fair judge who is always hostile to evil.
God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.
12 If people do not change their minds, he will sharpen his sword. He has bent and strung his bow.
If a man doesn't relent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.
13 He has prepared weapons of death, he has his flaming arrows ready.
He has also prepared for himself deadly weapons. He makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 See how the wicked conceive evil! They are pregnant with trouble. They give birth to dishonesty.
Look, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
15 They dig a deep hole to catch people, but then fall into it themselves.
He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made.
16 The trouble they cause rebounds to hit them on the head; their violence against others comes down on their own skulls.
The trouble he causes shall return to his own head, and his violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
17 I will thank the Lord because he does what is right; I will sing praises 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.
