Psalms 7
1 Shiggaion of David, which he sang to Jehovah, concerning the words of Cush the Benjaminite. Jehovah my God, in thee have I trusted: save me from all my pursuers, 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 he tear my soul like a lion, crushing it while there is no deliverer.
Otherwise they will tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces with no one to save me.
3 Jehovah my God, if I have done this, if there be 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 that was at peace with me; (indeed I have freed him that without cause oppressed me; )
If I have paid back a friend with evil, if I have robbed my enemy for no reason,
5 Let the enemy pursue after my soul, and take [it], and let him tread down my life 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, Jehovah, in thine anger; lift thyself up against the raging of mine oppressors, and awake for me: thou hast commanded judgment.
Stand up, Lord, in your anger, rise up against the fury of my enemies; wake up, Lord, and bring me justice!
7 And the assembly of the peoples shall encompass thee; and for their sakes return thou on high.
Bring together the nations before you; rule them from your throne on high.
8 Jehovah shall minister judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity which 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 wrong of the wicked come to an end, and establish thou the righteous [man]; even thou that triest the hearts and reins, 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 saveth 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, and a God who is indignant all the day.
God is a fair judge who is always hostile to evil.
12 If one turn not, he will sharpen his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready,
If people do not change their minds, he will sharpen his sword. He has bent and strung his bow.
13 And he hath prepared for him instruments of death; his arrows hath he made burning.
He has prepared weapons of death, he has his flaming arrows ready.
14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood:
See how the wicked conceive evil! They are pregnant with trouble. They give birth to dishonesty.
15 He digged a pit, and hollowed it out, and is fallen into the hole that he made.
They dig a deep hole to catch people, but then fall into it themselves.
16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violence shall come down upon his own pate.
The trouble they cause rebounds to hit them on the head; their violence against others comes down on their own skulls.
17 I will praise Jehovah according to his righteousness, and will sing forth the name of Jehovah the 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.
