Psalm 7

1 A shiggaion t by David; he sang it to the Lord about the slanderous words of Cush, a descendant of Benjamin. O Lord my God, I have taken refuge in you.Save me, and rescue me from all who are pursuing me.2 Like a lion they will tear me to piecesand drag me off with no one to rescue me.3 O Lord my God,if I have done this—if my hands are stained with injustice,4 if I have paid back my friend with evilor rescued someone who has no reason to attack me—t5 then let the enemy chase me and catch me.Let him trample my life into the ground.Let him lay my honor in the dust.Selah6 Arise in anger, O Lord.Stand up against the fury of my attackers.Wake up, my God.tYou have already pronounced judgment.7 Let an assembly of people gather around you.Take your seat high above them.8 The Lord judges the people of the world.Judge me, O Lord,according to my righteousness,according to my integrity.9 Let the evil within wicked people come to an end,but make the righteous person secure,O righteous God who examines thoughts and emotions.10 My shield is God above,who saves those whose motives are decent.11 God is a fair judge,a God who is angered by injustice every day.12 If a person does not change, God sharpens his sword.By bending his bow, he makes it ready to shoot.13 He prepares his deadly weaponsand turns them into flaming arrows.14 See how that person conceives evil,is pregnant with harm,and gives birth to lies.15 He digs a pit and shovels it out.Then he falls into the hole that he made for others.16 His mischief lands back on his own head.His violence comes down on top of him.17 I will give thanks to the Lord for his righteousness.I will make music to praise the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 7

A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning3 a Benjaminite named Cush.4

1 O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter.
Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!

2 Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion;
they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

3 O Lord my God, if I have done what they say,
or am guilty of unjust actions,

4 or have wronged my ally,
or helped his lawless enemy,

5 may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me;
may he trample me to death
and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)

6 Stand up angrily,Lord!
Rise up with raging fury against my enemies!
Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them!

7 The countries are assembled all around you;
take once more your rightful place over them!

8 The Lord judges the nations.
Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent,
because I am blameless, O Exalted One!

9 May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end!
But make the innocent secure,
O righteous God,
you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

10 The Exalted God is my shield,
the one who delivers the morally upright.

11 God is a just judge;
he is angry throughout the day.

12 If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword
and prepares to shoot his bow.

13 He prepares to use deadly weapons against him;
he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.

14 See the one who is pregnant with wickedness,
who conceives destructive plans,
and gives birth to harmful lies –

15 he digs a pit
and then falls into the hole he has made.

16 He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans
and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head.

17 I will thank the Lord for his justice;
I will sing praises to the sovereign Lord!