< 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 meditation by David, which he sang to the LORD, concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite.] LORD, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
2 Lest he tear like a lion my soul, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.
lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be injustice in my hands;
LORD, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity 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 rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me, or oppressed my enemy without cause,
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 pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. (Selah)
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, LORD, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake, my God; you have appointed judgment.
7 So shall the congregation of nations compass thee about: and for their sakes return thou to the height.
And let the congregation of the peoples surround you, and rule over them 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 administers judgment to the peoples. Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity 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 the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The righteous God tests hearts and minds.
10 My protection is by God, who saveth the upright in heath.
My shield is with 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, yes, a God who has indignation every day.
12 If he turn not, He will whet his sword, he bendeth his bow, and maketh it ready.
If a man doesn't relent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.
13 Also for him he prepareth the instruments of death; he fashioneth his arrows against the persecutors.
He has also prepared for himself deadly weapons. He makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Behold, he travaileth with wrong doing; but he hath conceived mischief, and bringeth forth falsehood.
Look, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
15 He hath hollowed out a pit, and dug it, and is fallen into the ditch which he hath wrought.
He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made.
16 His mischief will return upon his own head, and upon his own skull will his violence come down.
The trouble he causes shall return to his own head, and his violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
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, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.