Psalm 7

A shiggaion^a of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

1O Lord my God, I take refuge in you;

save and deliver me from all who pursue me,

2or they will tear me like a lion

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

3O Lord my God, if I have done this

and there is guilt on my hands—

4if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me

or without cause have robbed my foe—

5then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;

let him trample my life to the ground

and make me sleep in the dust.       Selah

6Arise, O Lord, in your anger;

rise up against the rage of my enemies.

Awake, my God; decree justice.

7Let the assembled peoples gather around you.

Rule over them from on high;

8let the Lord judge the peoples.

Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness,

according to my integrity, O Most High.

9O righteous God,

who searches minds and hearts,

bring to an end the violence of the wicked

and make the righteous secure.

10My shield^b is God Most High,

who saves the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge,

a God who expresses his wrath every day.

12If he does not relent,

he^c will sharpen his sword;

he will bend and string his bow.

13He has prepared his deadly weapons;

he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14He who is pregnant with evil

and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.

15He who digs a hole and scoops it out

falls into the pit he has made.

16The trouble he causes recoils on himself;

his violence comes down on his own head.

17I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness

and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.