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