Psalm 7

A musical composition of David, which he sang to Yahweh concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.

1Yahweh my God, I take refuge in you!

Save me from all who chase me, and rescue me.

2Otherwise, they will rip me apart like a lion,

tearing me in pieces with no one else able to bring me to safety.

3Yahweh my God, if I have done this,

and there is guilt on my hands—

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

or senselessly harmed my enemy without cause, then hear my words.

5Then let my enemy pursue my life and overtake me;

let him trample my life to the ground

and lay my honor in the dust. Selah

6Arise, Yahweh, in your anger;

stand up against the rage of my enemies;

wake up for my sake and carry out the righteous decrees that you have commanded for them.

7The countries are assembled all around you;

take once more your rightful place over them.

8Yahweh, judge the nations;

vindicate me, Yahweh, because I am righteous and innocent, Most High.

9May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous people,

righteous God, you who examine hearts and minds.

10My shield comes from God,

the one who saves the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge,

a God who is indignant each day.

12If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword

and will prepare his bow for battle.

13He prepares to use weapons against him;

he makes his arrows flaming shafts.

14Think about the one who is pregnant with wickedness,

who conceives destructive plans, who gives birth to harmful lies.

15He digs a pit and hollows it out

and then falls into the hole he has made.

16His own destructive plans return to his own head,

for his violence comes down on his own head.

17I will give thanks to Yahweh for his justice;

I will sing praise to Yahweh Most High.