Psalms 7

¹O Jehovah, my God! to thee do I look for help; Save me from them that persecute me, and deliver me!

²Lest mine enemy tear me like a lion; Lest he rend me in pieces, while there is none to help.

³O Jehovah, my God! if I have done this,—If there be iniquity upon my hands,

⁴If I have rendered evil to my friend, Or have despoiled him that without cause is mine enemy,—

⁵Let my adversary pursue and take me; Let him trample me to the ground, And lay me prostrate in the dust! [Pause.]

⁶Arise, O LORD! in thine anger; Lift thyself up against the rage of mine enemies; Awake for me, ordain judgment!

⁷Let the assembly of the nations compass thee about, And on their account return to the height!

⁸The LORD judgeth the nations; Judge me, O LORD! according to my righteousness, And requite me according to my integrity!

⁹Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked be at an end; But establish the righteous! For the righteous God trieth the heart and the reins.

¹⁰My shield is with God, Who saveth the upright in heart.

¹¹God is a righteous judge, And a God who is angry every day.

¹²If he do not desist, He sharpeneth his sword; He bendeth his bow, and maketh it ready;

¹³He prepareth for him the instruments of death; He shooteth his burning arrows.

¹⁴Behold, he travailed with iniquity, And conceived mischief, But hath brought forth disappointment!

¹⁵He made a pit and digged it. And is fallen into the ditch which he made.

¹⁶His mischief returneth upon his own head, And his violence cometh down upon his own skull.

¹⁷I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

¹O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

²Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

³O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

⁴If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

⁵Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

⁶Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

⁷So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

⁸The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

⁹Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

¹⁰My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

¹¹God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

¹²If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

¹³He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

¹⁴Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

¹⁵He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

¹⁶His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

¹⁷I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.