The Book of Psalms

A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Cush, the son of Jemini.

O Lord, my God, in you I have hoped. Save me from all those who persecute me, and free me:

lest at any time, like a lion, he might seize my soul, while there is no one to redeem me, nor any who can save.

O Lord, my God, if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have done this:

if I have repaid those who rendered evils to me, may I deservedly fall away empty before my enemies:

let the enemy pursue my soul, and take hold of it, and trample my life into the earth, and drag down my glory into the dust. Pause

Rise up, Lord, in your anger. And be exalted to the borders of my enemies. And rise up, O Lord my God, according to the precept that you commanded,

and a congregation of people will surround you. And, because of this, return on high.

The Lord judges the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my justice and according to my innocence within me.

The wickedness of sinners will be consumed, and you will direct the just: the examiner of hearts and temperaments is God.(a)

Just is my help from the Lord, who saves the upright of heart.

God is a just judge, strong and patient. How could he be angry throughout every day?

Unless you will be converted, he will brandish his sword. He has extended his bow and made it ready.

And with it, he has prepared instruments of death. He has produced his arrows for those on fire.(b)

Behold him who has given birth to injustice: he has conceived sorrow and has begotten iniquity.

He has opened a pit and enlarged it. And he has fallen into the hole that he made.

His sorrow will be turned upon his own head, and his iniquity will descend upon his highest point.

I will confess to the Lord according to his justice, and I will sing a psalm to the name of the Lord Most High.

(a)7:10 The word ‘renes’ literally means ‘kidneys,’ but it is used metaphorically to refer to one’s temperament.(Conte)

(b)7:14 For them that burn:That is, against the persecutors of his saints.(Challoner)

LORD, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.

LORD, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,

if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary),

let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah.

Arise, LORD, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment.

Let the congregation of the peoples surround you. Rule over them on high.

The LORD administers judgment to the peoples. Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me.

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.

My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.

If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.

He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows.

Behold,(a) he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood.

He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made.

The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.

I will give thanks to the LORD according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

(a)7:14 “Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.