< 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 of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Chusi the Benjamite. O Lord my God, in you have I trusted: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.
2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
Lest at any time [the enemy] seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.
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 there is unrighteousness in 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 requited with evil those who requited me [with good]; may I then perish empty by means of my enemies.
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)
Let the enemy persecute my soul, an take it; and let him trample my life on the ground, and lay my glory in the dust. (Pause)
6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger, lift up yourself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that you have commanded.
Arise, O Lord, in your wrath; be exalted in the utmost boundaries of mine enemies: awake, O Lord my God, according to the decree which you did command.
7 So shall the congregation of the people compass you about: for their sakes therefore return you on high.
And the congregation of the nations shall compass you: and for this cause do you return 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 shall judge the nations: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my innocence that is in me.
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.
Oh let the wickedness of sinners come to an end; and [then] you shall direct the righteous, O God that search the hearts and reins.
10 My defence is of God, which saves the upright in heart.
My help is righteous, [coming] from God who saves the upright in heart.
11 God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
God is a righteous judge, and strong, and patient, not inflicting vengeance every day.
12 If he turn not, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
If you will not repent, he will furbish his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
13 He has also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordains his arrows against the persecutors.
And on it he has fitted the instruments of death; he has completed his arrows for the raging ones.
14 Behold, he labors with iniquity, and has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Behold, he has travailed with unrighteousness, he has conceived trouble, and brought forth iniquity.
15 He made a pit, and dug it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
He has opened a pit, and dug it up, and he shall fall into the ditch which he has made.
16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own crown of the head.
His trouble shall return on his own head, and his unrighteousness shall come down on his own crown.
17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
I will give thanks to the Lord according to his righteousness; I will sing to the name of the Lord most high.