Psalms 7

Psalm 7#sn Psalm 7. The psalmist asks the Lord to intervene and deliver him from his enemies. He protests his innocence and declares his confidence in God’s justice.

A musical composition#tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew term שִׁגָּיוֹן (shiggayon; translated here “musical composition”) is uncertain. Some derive the noun from the verbal root שָׁגָה (shagah, “swerve, reel”) and understand it as referring to a “wild, passionate song, with rapid changes of rhythm” (see BDB 993 s.v. שִׁגָּיוֹן). But this proposal is purely speculative. The only other appearance of the noun is in Hab 3:1, where it occurs in the plural. by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning#tn Or “on account of.” a Benjaminite named Cush.#sn Apparently this individual named Cush was one of David’s enemies.

1O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!

2Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion; they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

3O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,

4or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy,

5may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)

6Stand up angrily, Lord! Rise up with raging fury against my enemies! Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them!

7The countries are assembled all around you; take once more your rightful place over them!

8The Lord judges the nations. Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One!

9May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

10The Exalted God is my shield, the one who delivers the morally upright.

11God is a just judge; he is angry throughout the day.

12If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot his bow.

13He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.

14See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies –

15he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made.

16He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head.

17I will thank the Lord for his justice; I will sing praises to the sovereign Lord!