An Ode of David, [perhaps in a wild, irregular, enthusiastic strain,] which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, in You I take refuge; Save me and rescue me from all those who pursue me,
So that my enemy will not tear me like a lion, Dragging me away while there is no one to rescue [me].
O LORD my God, if I have done this, If there is injustice in my hands,
If I have done evil to him who was at peace with me, Or without cause robbed him who was my enemy,
Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; And let him trample my life to the ground And lay my honor in the dust. Selah.
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift up Yourself against the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me; You have commanded judgment and vindication.
Let the assembly of the nations be gathered around You, And return on high over them.
The LORD judges the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, and grant me justice according to my righteousness and according to the integrity within me.
Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous [those in right standing with You]; For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
My shield and my defense depend on God, Who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge, And a God who is indignant every day.
If a man does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has strung and bent His [mighty] bow and made it ready.
He has also prepared [other] deadly weapons for Himself; He makes His arrows fiery shafts [aimed at the unrepentant].
Behold, the [wicked and irreverent] man is pregnant with sin, And he conceives mischief and gives birth to lies.
He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, And has fallen into the [very] pit which he made [as a trap].
His mischief will return on his own head, And his violence will come down on the top of his head [like loose dirt].
I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness and justice, And I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.