Psalms 7
1 O LORD my God, in you do I put my trust: 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 he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
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 be iniquity in my hands;
If I have done what I'm accused of, if my hands are guilty,
4 If I have rewarded evil to him that was at peace with me; (yes, I have delivered him that without cause is my enemy: )
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, and take it; yes, let him tread down my life on the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. (Selah)
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 your anger, lift up yourself because of the rage of my enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that you have commanded.
Stand up, Lord, in your anger, rise up against the fury of my enemies; wake up, Lord, and bring me justice!
7 So shall the congregation of the people compass you about: for their sakes therefore return you on high.
Bring together the nations before you; rule them from your throne on high.
8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity 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 the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God tries 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 defense is of God, which saves the upright in heart.
The Most High God is my defense, the one who saves those who live right.
11 God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
God is a fair judge who is always hostile to evil.
12 If he turn not, he will whet 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 He has also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordains his arrows against the persecutors.
He has prepared weapons of death, he has his flaming arrows ready.
14 Behold, he travails with iniquity, and has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
See how the wicked conceive evil! They are pregnant with trouble. They give birth to dishonesty.
15 He made a pit, and dig it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
They dig a deep hole to catch people, but then fall into it themselves.
16 His mischief shall return on his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own pate.
The trouble they cause rebounds to hit them on the head; their violence against others comes down on their own skulls.
17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise 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.
