< Psalms 7 >
1 O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,
2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,
4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy: )
if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. (Selah)
then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust.
6 Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
Let the assembled peoples gather around You; take Your seat over them on high.
8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.
9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day.
12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.
13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.
14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making.
16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.
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 for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.