Psalms 7

₁O 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 —

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.

₈You are the judge of the whole human race.

Judge in my favour, O LORD;

you know that I am innocent.

₉You 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 practise 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.