Psalm 7

Prayer for Justice

A Shiggaion t of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of * Cush, u a Benjaminite.

1 * Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You; v

save me from all my pursuers and rescue me w

2 or they x will tear me like a lion,

ripping me apart with no one to rescue me. y z

3 Yahweh my God, if I have done this,

if there is injustice on my hands, a

4 if I have done harm to one at peace with me b

or have plundered c my adversary without cause, d

5 may an enemy pursue and overtake me;

may he trample me to the ground e

and leave my honor in the dust. f * Selah

6 Rise up, Lord, in Your anger;

lift Yourself up against the fury of my adversaries; g

awake for me; h i

You have ordained j a judgment. k

7 Let the assembly of peoples gather around You; l

take Your seat m on high over it. n

8 The Lord judges the peoples; o

vindicate me, Lord,

according to my righteousness and my integrity. p q

9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, r

but establish the righteous. s

The One who examines the thoughts and emotions t

is a righteous God. u

10 My shield is with v God, w

who saves the upright in heart. x

11 God is a righteous judge

and a God who shows His wrath every day. y

12 If anyone does not repent,

God z will sharpen His sword; a

He has strung b His bow and made it ready. c

13 He has prepared His deadly weapons;

He tips His arrows with fire. d

14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,

conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit. e

15 He dug a pit and hollowed it out

but fell into the hole he had made. f

16 His trouble comes back on his own head,

and his violence falls on the top of his head. g

17 I will thank the Lord for His righteousness;

I will sing about the name of Yahweh the * Most High. h