Psalms 7

Prayer for Justice

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

1 Lord my God, I seek refuge in you;  * 7:1 Ps 11:1; 31:1; 71:1

save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,  * 7:1 Ps 31:15

2 or they  * 7:2 Lit he will tear me like a lion,

ripping me apart with no one to rescue me.  * 7:2 Ps 57:4; Is 5:29

3 Lord my God, if I have done this,

if there is injustice on my hands,  * 7:3 1Sm 24:11

4 if I have done harm to one at peace with me  * 7:4 Ps 55:20

or have plundered  * 7:4 Or me and have spared my adversary without cause,  * 7:4 1Sm 24:11; 26:18

5 may an enemy pursue and overtake me;

may he trample me to the ground  * 7:5 Am 2:7

and leave my honor in the dust.  * 7:3–5 Jb 31:5–40Selah

6 Rise up, Lord, in your anger;

lift yourself up against the fury of my adversaries;  * 7:6 Ps 3:7; 17:13

awake for me;  * 7:6 LXX reads awake, Lord my God,* 7:6 Ps 59:4

you have ordained a judgment.  * 7:6 Jr 15:3

7 Let the assembly of peoples gather around you;  * 7:7 Ps 22:27

take your seat on high over it.  * 7:7 Ps 68:18

8 The Lord judges the peoples;  * 7:8 Ps 96:13; 98:9

vindicate me, Lord,

according to my righteousness and my integrity.  * 7:8 Ps 26:1; 35:24; 43:1

9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end,  * 7:9 Ps 94:23

but establish the righteous.  * 7:9 Is 9:7

The one who examines the thoughts and emotions  * 7:9 Lit examines hearts and kidneys

is a righteous God.  * 7:9 Heb 4:12

10 My shield is with God,  * 7:10 2Sm 22:3; Ps 18:2; 144:2

who saves the upright in heart.  * 7:10 Ps 36:10

11 God is a righteous judge

and a God who shows his wrath every day.  * 7:11 Ps 9:4; Is 11:4

12 If anyone does not repent,

he will sharpen his sword;  * 7:12 Nm 22:23; Dt 32:41

he has strung his bow and made it ready.  * 7:12 Ps 37:14

13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;

he tips his arrows with fire.  * 7:13 Ps 18:14; 45:5; 64:7; 144:6

14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,

conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.  * 7:14 Jb 15:35; Is 59:4; Jms 1:15

15 He dug a pit and hollowed it out

but fell into the hole he had made.  * 7:15 Ps 9:15; 57:6; Pr 26:27; 28:10

16 His trouble comes back on his own head;

his own violence comes down on top of his head.  * 7:16 1Sm 25:39; 1Kg 2:33; Est 9:25

17 I will thank the Lord for his righteousness;

I will sing about the name of the  Lord Most High.  * 7:17 Ps 9:2; 71:15–16