1 A passionate song of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

2 O Lord, my God, I take refuge in You; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me.

Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 Otherwise, they will tear me apart like a lion, ripping me to pieces with no one to rescue.

O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 O Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands,

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5 if I have repaid my friend with evil or have plundered my enemy without cause,

Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6 then let my enemy chase me, overtake me, trample my life to the ground, and lay my honor in the dust. Selah.

Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger; lift Yourself up against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me; You have decreed judgment.

So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8 Let the assembly of the nations gather around You; take Your seat on high above them.

The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9 The Lord will judge the peoples. Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity.

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous, for You test hearts and minds, O righteous God.

My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

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

God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 God is a righteous judge and a God who is angry every day.

If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 If a person does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready.

He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 He has prepared His deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts.

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 Behold, the wicked conceives evil, is pregnant with mischief, and gives birth to lies.

He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 They dig a pit and hollow it out, only to fall into the hole they have made.

His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 His trouble will return upon his own head, and his violent deeds will fall on his own crown.

I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

18 I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.