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Jehovah implored to defend the psalmist against the wicked.

Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto Jehovah, concerning the words of Cush a Benjamite.

O Jehovah my God, in thee do I take refuge:
Save me from all them that pursue me, and deliver me,
Lest they tear my soul like a lion,
Rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
O Jehovah 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 was mine adversary;)
Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it;
Yea, let him tread my life down to the earth,
And lay my glory in the dust. Selah
Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger;
Lift up thyself against the rage of mine adversaries,
And awake for me; thou hast commanded judgment.
[a]And let the congregation of the peoples compass thee about;
And over them return thou on high.
Jehovah ministereth judgment to the peoples:
Judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and to mine integrity [b]that is in me.
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish thou the righteous:
For the righteous God trieth the minds and [c]hearts.
10 My shield is with God,
Who saveth the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
Yea, a God that hath indignation every day.
12 [d]If a man 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 maketh his arrows fiery shafts.
14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity;
Yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
15 He hath 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 violence shall come down upon his own pate.
17 I will give thanks unto Jehovah according to his righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of Jehovah Most High.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 7:7 Or, So shall
  2. Psalm 7:8 Or, be it unto me
  3. Psalm 7:9 Hebrew reins.
  4. Psalm 7:12 Or, Surely he will again whet

A song[a] of David that he sang to the Lord about Cush from the tribe of Benjamin.

Lord my God, I come to you for protection.
    Save me from those who are chasing me.
If you don’t help me, I will be torn apart like an animal caught by a lion.
    I will be carried away with no one to save me.

Lord my God, I have done nothing wrong.
I have done nothing to hurt a friend[b]
    or to help his enemies.
If that is not the truth, then punish me.
    Let an enemy chase me, catch me, and kill me.
    Let him grind me into the dirt and put me in my grave. Selah

Lord, get up[c] and show your anger!
    My enemy is angry, so stand and fight against him.
    Get me the justice that you demand.
Gather the nations around you,
    and take your place as judge.
Lord, judge the people.
    Lord, judge me.
    Prove that I am right and that I am innocent.
Stop those who do evil.
    Support those who do good.
God, you are fair.
    You know what people are thinking.

10 God helps people who want to do right,
    so he will protect me.
11 God is a good judge.
    He always condemns evil.
12-13 If the wicked will not change,
    then God is ready to punish them.
He has prepared his deadly weapons.
    His sword is sharp.
His bow is strung, drawn back,
    and ready to shoot its flaming arrow.

14 The minds of the wicked are full of evil;
    they are pregnant with wicked plans,
    which give birth to lies.
15 They dig a pit to trap others,
    but they are the ones who will fall into it.
16 The trouble they cause will come back on them.
    They plan harm for others,
    but they are the ones who will be hurt.

17 I praise the Lord because he is good.
    I praise the name of the Lord Most High.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 7:1 Psalm 7 song Hebrew, “ shiggayon,” which may mean a special kind of song, perhaps one that is sad or full of emotion.
  2. Psalm 7:4 friend Or “ally.”
  3. Psalm 7:6 Lord, get up The people said this when they lifted the Box of the Agreement and took it into battle, showing that God was with them. See Num. 10:35-36.