Psa 7 | HCSB | STEP | A Shiggaion of David , which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush , a Benjaminite . Yahweh my God , I seek refuge in You; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me

‏ Psalms 7

Prayer for Justice

1 A Shiggaion ^{▼▼Perhaps a passionate song with rapid changes of rhythm, or a dirge} of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of ^{▼▼Cush/ Cushite: The lands of the Nile in southern Egypt, including Nubia and Northern Sudan; the people who lived in that region}Cush, ^{▼▼LXX, Aq, Sym, Theod, Jer read of the Cushite} a Benjaminite.

^{▼▼Yahweh/Yah: Or The Lord; the personal name of God in Hebrew; "Yah" is the shortened form of the name.}Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in You; ^e
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me ^f
2 or they ^{▼▼Lit he} will tear me like a lion,
ripping me apart with no one to rescue me. ^{▼▼Lit ripping, and without a rescuer
,} ⁱ

3 Yahweh my God, if I have done this,
if there is injustice on my hands, ^j
4 if I have done harm to one at peace with me ^k
or have plundered ^{▼▼Or me and have spared} my adversary without cause, ^m
5 may an enemy pursue and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground ⁿ
and leave my honor in the dust. ^{o
,} ^{▼▼Selah: A Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain; various interpretations include: (1) a musical notation, (2) a pause for silence, (3) a signal for worshipers to fall prostrate on the ground, (4) a term for the worshipers to call out, and (5) a word meaning "forever"}
Selah

6 Rise up, Lord, in Your anger;
lift Yourself up against the fury of my adversaries; ^q
awake for me; ^{▼▼LXX reads awake, Lord my God
,} ^s
You have ordained ^{▼▼Or me; ordain} a judgment. ^u
7 Let the assembly of peoples gather around You; ^v
take Your seat ^{▼▼MT reads and return} on high over it. ^x
8 The Lord judges the peoples; ^y
vindicate me, Lord,
according to my righteousness and my integrity. ^{▼▼Lit integrity on me
,} ^aa

9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, ^ab
but establish the righteous. ^ac
The One who examines the thoughts and emotions ^{▼▼Lit examines hearts and kidneys}
is a righteous God. ^ae
10 My shield is with ^{▼▼Lit on} God, ^ag
who saves the upright in heart. ^ah
11 God is a righteous judge
and a God who shows His wrath every day. ^ai

12 If anyone does not repent,
God ^{▼▼Lit He} will sharpen His sword; ^ak
He has strung ^{▼▼Lit bent; that is, bent the bow to string it} His bow and made it ready. ^am
13 He has prepared His deadly weapons;
He tips His arrows with fire. ^an

14 See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,
conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit. ^ao
15 He dug a pit and hollowed it out
but fell into the hole he had made. ^ap
16 His trouble comes back on his own head,
and his violence falls on the top of his head. ^aq

17 I will thank the Lord for His righteousness;
I will sing about the name of Yahweh the ^{▼▼Most High: The Hebrew word is Elyon. It is often used with other names of God, such as El (God) or Yahweh (Lord); it is used to refer to God as the supreme being.}Most High. ^as