Psalms 7

A psalm 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 all 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.

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 is God Most High, who save the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge, a God who displays in his wrath every day.

12 If he does not relent, he 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.