Psalm 7 Contemporary English Version

(Written by David.^[a] He sang this to the Lord because of Cush from the tribe of Benjamin.)

The Lord Always Does Right

¹You, Lord God,
    are my protector.
Rescue me and keep me safe
    from all who chase me.
²Or else they will rip me apart
like lions attacking a victim,
    and no one will save me.

³I am innocent, Lord God!
⁴I have not betrayed a friend
    or had pity on an enemy^[b]
    who attacks for no reason.
⁵If I have done any of this,
then let my enemies
    chase and capture me.
Let them trample me to death
    and leave me in the dirt.

⁶Get angry, Lord God!
    Do something!
Attack my furious enemies.
    See that justice is done.
⁷Make the nations come to you,
as you sit on your throne^[c]
    above them all.

⁸Our Lord, judge the nations!
Judge me and show that I
    am honest and innocent.
⁹^(A) You know every heart and mind,
    and you always do right.
Now make violent people stop,
but protect all of us
    who obey you.

¹⁰You, God, are my shield,
the protector of everyone
    whose heart is right.
¹¹You see that justice is done,
and each day
    you take revenge.
¹²Whenever your enemies refuse
    to change their ways,
you sharpen your sword
    and string your bow.
¹³Your deadly arrows are ready
    with flaming tips.

¹⁴An evil person is like a woman
    about to give birth
to a hateful, deceitful,
    and rebellious child.
¹⁵^(B) Such people dig a deep hole,
    then fall in it themselves.
¹⁶The trouble they cause
    comes back on them,
and their heads are crushed
    by their own evil deeds.

¹⁷I will praise you, Lord!
You always do right.
I will sing about you,
the Lord Most High.

Footnotes

Psalm 7 Written by David: The Hebrew text has “a shiggaion by David,” which may refer to a psalm of mourning.
7.4 had pity on an enemy: Or “failed to have pity on an enemy.”
7.7 sit … throne: Or “return to your place.”