< Psalms 7 >
1 Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjaminite. 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 about Cush, the Benjamite. Lord my God, I take refuge in you. Deliver me, save me from all who pursue me;
2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending [it] in pieces, while [there is] none to deliver.
or like lions they will tear me to pieces, and rend me, past hope of rescue.
3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there is iniquity in my hands;
Lord, my God, if my life has been such if my hands have been stained with guilt,
4 If I have rewarded evil to him that was at peace with me; (yes, I have delivered him that without cause is my enemy: )
if friends I paid back with evil, if I plundered my foes without cause,
5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; yes, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. (Selah)
may the enemy chase and find me, trample my life to the ground, my honour leave in the dirt! (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 anger, against my foes rise in fury. Awake for my help: let justice be done.
7 So shall the congregation of the people encompass thee: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
Gather the nations about you, and sit on your lofty throne,
8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity [that is] in me.
as the Lord, the judge of the peoples. Judge me, Lord, in my innocence and according to my 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 wrong of the wicked, protect the righteous. Searcher of hearts and minds, righteous God.
10 My defense [is] from God, who saveth the upright in heart.
God is my shield: he saves the upright in heart.
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day.
God is a just judge, constant in righteous anger.
12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
He will sharpen his sword without fail, his bow is bent and ready,
13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
his deadly weapons are ready, his arrows he makes of flame.
14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
The enemy who conceives evil; pregnant with mischief, giving birth to lies,
15 He made a pit, and digged it, and hath fallen into the ditch [which] he made.
a pit they have made and dug; but into the hole that they made they will fall.
16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
On their own heads their mischief comes back; on their own skulls their violence comes down.
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 for his justice, and sing to the name of the Lord Most High.