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

³ Lord my God, if I have done thisand there is guilt on my hands—⁴ if I have repaid my ally with evilor without cause have robbed my foe—⁵ then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;let him trample my life to the groundand 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 wickedand make the righteous secure—you, the righteous Godwho 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 evilconceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.¹⁵ Whoever digs a hole and scoops it outfalls 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.