Psalm 7[a]

A shiggaion[b] of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you;

save and deliver me from all who pursue me,

2 or they will tear me apart like a lion

and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

 

3 Lord my God, if I have done this

and there is guilt on my hands—

4 if I have repaid my ally with evil

or without cause have robbed my foe—

5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;

let him trample my life to the ground

and make me sleep in the dust.[c]

 

6 Arise, Lord, in your anger;

rise up against the rage of my enemies.

Awake, my God; decree justice.

7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,

while you sit enthroned over them on high.

8 Let the Lord judge the peoples.

Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,

according to my integrity, O Most High.

9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked

and make the righteous secure—

you, the righteous God

who probes minds and hearts.

 

10 My shield[d] is God Most High,

who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge,

a God who displays his wrath every day.

12 If he does not relent,

he[e] will sharpen his sword;

he will bend and string his bow.

13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;

he makes ready his flaming arrows.

 

14 Whoever is pregnant with evil

conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.

15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out

falls into the pit they have made.

16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;

their violence comes down on their own heads.

 

17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;

I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.