Psalms 7
1 A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Cush, the son of Jemini. O Lord, my God, in you I have hoped. Save me from all those who persecute me, and free me:
A musical composition of David, which he sang to Yahweh concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. Yahweh my God, I take refuge in you! Save me from all who chase me, and rescue me.
2 lest at any time, like a lion, he might seize my soul, while there is no one to redeem me, nor any who can save.
Otherwise, they will rip me apart like a lion, tearing me in pieces with no one else able to bring me to safety.
3 O Lord, my God, if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have done this:
Yahweh my God, if I have done this, and there is guilt on my hands—
4 if I have repaid those who rendered evils to me, may I deservedly fall away empty before my enemies:
if I have done evil to him who was at peace with me, or senselessly harmed my enemy without cause, then hear my words.
5 let the enemy pursue my soul, and take hold of it, and trample my life into the earth, and drag down my glory into the dust. (Pause)
Then let my enemy pursue my life and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and lay my honor in the dust. (Selah)
6 Rise up, Lord, in your anger. And be exalted to the borders of my enemies. And rise up, O Lord my God, according to the precept that you commanded,
Arise, Yahweh, in your anger; stand up against the rage of my enemies; wake up for my sake and carry out the righteous decrees that you have commanded for them.
7 and a congregation of people will surround you. And, because of this, return on high.
The countries are assembled all around you; take once more your rightful place over them.
8 The Lord judges the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my justice and according to my innocence within me.
Yahweh, judge the nations; vindicate me, Yahweh, because I am righteous and innocent, Most High.
9 The wickedness of sinners will be consumed, and you will direct the just: the examiner of hearts and temperaments is God.
May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous people, righteous God, you who examine hearts and minds.
10 Just is my help from the Lord, who saves the upright of heart.
My shield comes from God, the one who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a just judge, strong and patient. How could he be angry throughout every day?
God is a righteous judge, a God who is indignant each day.
12 Unless you will be converted, he will brandish his sword. He has extended his bow and made it ready.
If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword and will prepare his bow for battle.
13 And with it, he has prepared instruments of death. He has produced his arrows for those on fire.
He prepares to use weapons against him; he makes his arrows flaming shafts.
14 Behold him who has given birth to injustice: he has conceived sorrow and has begotten iniquity.
Think about the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, who gives birth to harmful lies.
15 He has opened a pit and enlarged it. And he has fallen into the hole that he made.
He digs a pit and hollows it out and then falls into the hole he has made.
16 His sorrow will be turned upon his own head, and his iniquity will descend upon his highest point.
His own destructive plans return to his own head, for his violence comes down on his own head.
17 I will confess to the Lord according to his justice, and I will sing a psalm to the name of the Lord Most High.
I will give thanks to Yahweh for his justice; I will sing praise to Yahweh Most High.
