A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush.

7:1 O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!

7:2 Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion; they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

7:3 O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,

7:4 or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy,

7:5 may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying humiliated in the dust. (Selah)

7:6 Rise up angrily, Lord! Spring into action with raging fury against my enemies! Intervene for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them!

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

7:8 The Lord judges the nations. Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One!

7:9 May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O just God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

7:10 The Exalted God is my shield, the one who delivers the morally upright.

7:11 God is a just judge; he executes judgment throughout the day.

7:12 If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot his bow.

7:13 He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.

7:14 See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies —

7:15 he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made.

7:16 He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans and experiences the violence he intended for others.

• Refer to God of Irony

7:17 I will thank the Lord for his justice; I will sing praises to the Sovereign Lord!