Psalm 7

A Prayer for Justiceⁱ

7 O Lord, my God, I come to you for protection;

rescue me and save me from all who pursue me,

²or else like a lion they will carry me off

where no one can save me,

and there they will tear me to pieces.

^3–4O Lord, my God,

if I have wronged anyone, if I have betrayed a friend

or without cause done violence to my enemy—^j

if I have done any of these things-

⁵then let my enemies pursue me and catch me,

let them cut me down and kill me

and leave me lifeless on the ground!

⁶Rise in your anger, O Lord!

Stand up against the fury of my enemies;

rouse yourself and help me!

Justice is what you demand,

⁷so bring together all the peoples round you,

and rule over them from above.^k

⁸You are the judge of the whole human race.

Judge in my favour, O Lord;

you know that I am innocent.

^9*You are a righteous God

and judge our thoughts and desires.

Stop the wickedness of evildoers

and reward those who are good.

¹⁰God is my protector;

he saves those who obey him.

¹¹God is a righteous judge

and always condemns the wicked.

¹²If they do not change their ways,

God will sharpen his sword.

He bends his bow and makes it ready;

¹³he takes up his deadly weapons

and aims his burning arrows.

¹⁴See how wicked people think up evil;

they plan trouble and practice deception.

¹⁵But in the traps they set for others,

they themselves get caught.

¹⁶So they are punished by their own evil

and are hurt by their own violence.

¹⁷I thank the Lord for his justice,

I sing praises to the Lord, the Most High.