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!
Ode of David: which he sang unto Yahweh, on account of the words of Cush the Benjamite. O Yahweh my God, in thee, have I sought refuge, —Save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me:
2 Otherwise they will tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces with no one to save me.
Lest one tear, as a lion, my soul, —and there be no deliverer to rescue.
3 If I have done what I'm accused of, if my hands are guilty,
O Yahweh my God, If I have done this, If there hath been perversity 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 requited my friend with wrong, —or have oppressed mine adversary without need,
5 Then let my enemies chase me down; let them trample me in the dust and drag my reputation through the dirt. (Selah)
Let an enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it, that he may tread down, to the earth, my life, —and, mine honour—in the dust, he may cause to dwell. (Selah)
6 Stand up, Lord, in your anger, rise up against the fury of my enemies; wake up, Lord, and bring me justice!
Rise! Yahweh! in thine anger, Lift thyself up, because of the haughty outbursts of mine adversaries, Stir up for me the justice thou hast commanded:
7 Bring together the nations before you; rule them from your throne on high.
When, the assembly of peoples, gather round thee, then, above it—on high, do thou return!
8 The Lord judges all people. Defend me, Lord, because I do what is right, because of my integrity.
Yahweh, will judge the peoples, —Do me justice, O Yahweh, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity upon 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.
Let the wrong of the lawless, I pray thee, come to an end, and establish thou him that is righteous, —for, a trier of hearts and reins, is God the righteous one.
10 The Most High God is my defense, the one who saves those who live right.
My shield, is held by God, who is ready to save the upright in heart:
11 God is a fair judge who is always hostile to evil.
A God to vindicate the righteous, —And yet a God to be indignant throughout every day.
12 If people do not change their minds, he will sharpen his sword. He has bent and strung his bow.
If he turn not, his sword, will he whet, —his bow, hath he bent, and made ready:
13 He has prepared weapons of death, he has his flaming arrows ready.
But, for himself, hath he made ready the weapons so deadly, His arrows, he, so fiery, would make:
14 See how the wicked conceive evil! They are pregnant with trouble. They give birth to dishonesty.
Lo! he gendereth trouble, and conceiveth mischief, but giveth birth to a disappointment:
15 They dig a deep hole to catch people, but then fall into it themselves.
A pit, he cut out, and digged it, and then fell into the ditch he had made:
16 The trouble they cause rebounds to hit them on the head; their violence against others comes down on their own skulls.
His mischief, turneth back, on his own head, —and, on his own crown, his violence, descendeth.
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 praise Yahweh according to his righteousness, —and will praise in song the Name of Yahweh Most High.
