Psalms 7
1 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.
A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Chusi the Benjamite. O Lord my God, in thee have I trusted: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.
2 Otherwise, they will rip me apart like a lion, tearing me in pieces with no one else able to bring me to safety.
Lest at any time [the enemy] seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.
3 Yahweh my God, if I have done this, and there is guilt on my hands—
O Lord my God, if I have done this; (if there is unrighteousness in my hands; )
4 if I have done evil to him who was at peace with me, or senselessly harmed my enemy without cause, then hear my words.
if I have requited with evil those who requited me [with good]; may I then perish empty by means of my enemies.
5 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)
Let the enemy persecute my soul, an take it; and let him trample my life on the ground, and lay my glory in the dust. (Pause)
6 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.
Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath; be exalted in the utmost boundaries of mine enemies: awake, O Lord my God, according to the decree which thou didst command.
7 The countries are assembled all around you; take once more your rightful place over them.
And the congregation of the nations shall compass thee: and for this cause do thou return on high.
8 Yahweh, judge the nations; vindicate me, Yahweh, because I am righteous and innocent, Most High.
The Lord shall judge the nations: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my innocence that is in me.
9 May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous people, righteous God, you who examine hearts and minds.
Oh let the wickedness of sinners come to an end; and [then] thou shalt direct the righteous, O God that searchest the hearts and reins.
10 My shield comes from God, the one who saves the upright in heart.
My help is righteous, [coming] from God who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, a God who is indignant each day.
God is a righteous judge, and strong, and patient, not inflicting vengeance every day.
12 If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword and will prepare his bow for battle.
If ye will not repent, he will furbish his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
13 He prepares to use weapons against him; he makes his arrows flaming shafts.
And on it he has fitted the instruments of death; he has completed his arrows for the raging ones.
14 Think about the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, who gives birth to harmful lies.
Behold, he has travailed with unrighteousness, he has conceived trouble, and brought forth iniquity.
15 He digs a pit and hollows it out and then falls into the hole he has made.
He has opened a pit, and dug it up, and he shall fall into the ditch which he has made.
16 His own destructive plans return to his own head, for his violence comes down on his own head.
His trouble shall return on his own head, and his unrighteousness shall come down on his own crown.
17 I will give thanks to Yahweh for his justice; I will sing praise to Yahweh Most High.
I will give thanks to the Lord according to his righteousness; I will sing to the name of the Lord most high.
