Add parallel Print Page Options

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,
lest they tear apart my soul like a lion,
    ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.
Yahweh, my God, if I have done this,
    if there is iniquity in my hands,
if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me
    (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary),
    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.
Arise, Yahweh, in your anger.
    Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries.
Awake for me. You have commanded judgment.
    Let the congregation of the peoples surround you.
    Rule over them on high.
Yahweh administers judgment to the peoples.
    Judge me, Yahweh, according to my righteousness,
    and to my integrity that is in me.
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.
10 My shield is with God,
    who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
    yes, a God who has indignation every day.
12 If a man doesn’t repent, 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.
14 Behold,[a] he travails with iniquity.
    Yes, he has conceived mischief,
    and brought out falsehood.
15 He has dug a hole,
    and has fallen into the pit which he made.
16 The trouble he causes shall return to his own head.
    His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
17 I will give thanks to Yahweh according to his righteousness,
    and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.

Footnotes

  1. 7:14 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.