Psalms 7
1 Ode of David: which he sang unto Yahweh, on account of the words of Cush the Benjamite. O Yahweh my God, in thee, have I sought refuge, —Save me from all my pursuers, 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 one tear, as a lion, my soul, —and there be no deliverer to rescue.
Otherwise they will tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces with no one to save me.
3 O Yahweh my God, If I have done this, If there hath been perversity in my hands:
If I have done what I'm accused of, if my hands are guilty,
4 If I have requited my friend with wrong, —or have oppressed mine adversary without need,
If I have paid back a friend with evil, if I have robbed my enemy for no reason,
5 Let an enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it, that he may tread down, to the earth, my life, —and, mine honour—in the dust, he may cause to dwell. (Selah)
Then let my enemies chase me down; let them trample me in the dust and drag my reputation through the dirt. (Selah)
6 Rise! Yahweh! in thine anger, Lift thyself up, because of the haughty outbursts of mine adversaries, Stir up for me the justice thou hast commanded:
Stand up, Lord, in your anger, rise up against the fury of my enemies; wake up, Lord, and bring me justice!
7 When, the assembly of peoples, gather round thee, then, above it—on high, do thou return!
Bring together the nations before you; rule them from your throne on high.
8 Yahweh, will judge the peoples, —Do me justice, O Yahweh, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity upon me,
The Lord judges all people. Defend me, Lord, because I do what is right, because of my integrity.
9 Let the wrong of the lawless, I pray thee, come to an end, and establish thou him that is righteous, —for, a trier of hearts and reins, is God the righteous one.
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 shield, is held by God, who is ready to save the upright in heart:
The Most High God is my defense, the one who saves those who live right.
11 A God to vindicate the righteous, —And yet a God to be indignant throughout every day.
God is a fair judge who is always hostile to evil.
12 If he turn not, his sword, will he whet, —his bow, hath he bent, and made ready:
If people do not change their minds, he will sharpen his sword. He has bent and strung his bow.
13 But, for himself, hath he made ready the weapons so deadly, His arrows, he, so fiery, would make:
He has prepared weapons of death, he has his flaming arrows ready.
14 Lo! he gendereth trouble, and conceiveth mischief, but giveth birth to a disappointment:
See how the wicked conceive evil! They are pregnant with trouble. They give birth to dishonesty.
15 A pit, he cut out, and digged it, and then fell into the ditch he had made:
They dig a deep hole to catch people, but then fall into it themselves.
16 His mischief, turneth back, on his own head, —and, on his own crown, his violence, descendeth.
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 Yahweh according to his righteousness, —and will praise in song the Name of Yahweh 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.
