< Psalms 7 >
1 “A Shiggayon of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the affairs of Cush the Benjamite.” O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust; save me from every one of my persecutors, 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 like a lion my soul, rending it in pieces, with 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 injustice in my hands;
O Lord my God, if I have done this; (if there is unrighteousness in my hands; )
4 If I have recompensed him that was at peace with me with evil; If I have taken aught from my assailants without cause:
if I have requited with evil those who requited me [with good]; may I then perish empty by means of my enemies.
5 May the enemy hotly pursue my soul, and overtake it; and tread down upon the earth my life, and cause my honor to be 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 thy anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of my enemies: and awake for me [to] the judgment that thou hast 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 nations compass thee about: and for their sakes return thou to the height.
And the congregation of the nations shall compass you: and for this cause do you return on high.
8 The Lord will judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity [grant] me [recompense].
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 evil of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just, O thou, who triest the hearts and reins, O righteous God.
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 protection is by God, who saveth the upright in heath.
My help is righteous, [coming] from God who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who is indignant [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 whet his sword, he bendeth his bow, and maketh it ready.
If you will not repent, he will furbish his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
13 Also for him he prepareth the instruments of death; he fashioneth 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 travaileth with wrong doing; but he hath conceived mischief, and bringeth forth falsehood.
Behold, he has travailed with unrighteousness, he has conceived trouble, and brought forth iniquity.
15 He hath hollowed out a pit, and dug it, and is fallen into the ditch which he hath wrought.
He has opened a pit, and dug it up, and he shall fall into the ditch which he has made.
16 His mischief will return upon his own head, and upon his own skull will his violence come down.
His trouble shall return on his own head, and his unrighteousness shall come down on his own crown.
17 I will thank the Lord according to his righteousness; and I will sing praises to the name of the Lord the Most High.
I will give thanks to the Lord according to his righteousness; I will sing to the name of the Lord most high.