1A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord about Cush, the Benjamite. Lord my God, I take refuge in you. Deliver me, save me from all who pursue me;
2or like lions they will tear me to pieces, and rend me, past hope of rescue.
3Lord, my God, if my life has been such if my hands have been stained with guilt,
4if friends I paid back with evil, if I plundered my foes without cause,
5may the enemy chase and find me, trample my life to the ground, my honour leave in the dirt! Selah
6Arise, Lord, in anger, against my foes rise in fury. Awake for my help: let justice be done.
7Gather the nations about you, and sit on your lofty throne,
8as the Lord, the judge of the peoples. Judge me, Lord, in my innocence and according to my integrity.
9Put an end to the wrong of the wicked, protect the righteous. Searcher of hearts and minds, righteous God.
10God is my shield: he saves the upright in heart.
11God is a just judge, constant in righteous anger.
12He will sharpen his sword without fail, his bow is bent and ready,
13his deadly weapons are ready, his arrows he makes of flame.
14The enemy who conceives evil; pregnant with mischief, giving birth to lies,
15a pit they have made and dug; but into the hole that they made they will fall.
16On their own heads their mischief comes back; on their own skulls their violence comes down.
17I will give thanks to the Lord for his justice, and sing to the name of the Lord Most High.
