Psalms 7
1 A meditation by 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 those who pursue me, and deliver me,
A psalm (shiggaion) of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, from the tribe of Benjamin. Lord my God, you are my protection. Save me from those who persecute me; please rescue me!
2 lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.
Otherwise they will tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces with no one to save me.
3 Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,
If I have done what I'm accused of, if my hands are guilty,
4 if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have plundered him who without cause was my adversary),
If I have paid back a friend with evil, if I have robbed my enemy for no reason,
5 let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. (Selah)
Then let my enemies chase me down; let them trample me in the dust and drag my reputation through the dirt. (Selah)
6 Arise, Yahweh, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment.
Stand up, Lord, in your anger, rise up against the fury of my enemies; wake up, Lord, and bring me justice!
7 Let the congregation of the peoples surround you. Rule over them on high.
Bring together the nations before you; rule them from your throne on high.
8 Yahweh administers judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Yahweh, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me.
The Lord judges all people. Defend me, Lord, because I do what is right, because of my integrity.
9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.
Please bring an end to the evil done by the wicked; vindicate those who do good, for you are the God of right who examines hearts and minds.
10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
The Most High God is my defense, the one who saves those who live right.
11 God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.
God is a fair judge who is always hostile to evil.
12 If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.
If people do not change their minds, he will sharpen his sword. He has bent and strung his bow.
13 He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows.
He has prepared weapons of death, he has his flaming arrows ready.
14 Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood.
See how the wicked conceive evil! They are pregnant with trouble. They give birth to dishonesty.
15 He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made.
They dig a deep hole to catch people, but then fall into it themselves.
16 The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
The trouble they cause rebounds to hit them on the head; their violence against others comes down on their own skulls.
17 I will give thanks to Yahweh according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.
I will thank the Lord because he does what is right; I will sing praises to the name of the Lord Most High.
