Psalm
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Psalm 7

The Lord Implored to Defend the Psalmist against the Wicked.

A [a]Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord [b]concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

1O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge;
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
2 Or he will tear [c]my soul like a lion,
[d]Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,
4 If I have rewarded evil to [e]my friend,
Or have plundered [f]him who without cause was my adversary,
5 Let the enemy pursue [g]my soul and overtake [h]it;
And let him trample my life down to the ground
And lay my glory in the dust. [i]Selah.

6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;
Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,
And arouse Yourself [j]for me; You have appointed judgment.
7 Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,
And over [k]them return on high.
8 The Lord judges the peoples;
[l]Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.
9 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and [m]minds.
10 My shield is [n]with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.

12 If [o]a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;
He has bent His bow and [p]made it ready.
13 He has also prepared [q]for Himself deadly weapons;
He makes His arrows fiery shafts.
14 Behold, he travails with wickedness,
And he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.
15 He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,
And has fallen into the hole which he made.
16 His mischief will return upon his own head,
And his violence will descend upon [r]his own pate.

17 I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 7:1 I.e. Dithyrambic rhythm; or wild passionate song
  2. Psalm 7:1 Or concerning the words of
  3. Psalm 7:2 Or me
  4. Psalm 7:2 Or Rending it in pieces, while
  5. Psalm 7:4 Lit him who was at peace with me
  6. Psalm 7:4 Or my adversary without cause
  7. Psalm 7:5 Or me
  8. Psalm 7:5 Or me
  9. Psalm 7:5 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude
  10. Psalm 7:6 One ancient version reads O my God
  11. Psalm 7:7 Lit it
  12. Psalm 7:8 Lit Judge
  13. Psalm 7:9 Lit kidneys, figurative for inner man
  14. Psalm 7:10 Lit upon
  15. Psalm 7:12 Lit he
  16. Psalm 7:12 Lit fixed it
  17. Psalm 7:13 Or His deadly weapons
  18. Psalm 7:16 I.e. the crown of his own head
Psalm 7