1 David prayeth against the malice of his enemies, professing his innocence. 10 By faith he seeth his defence, and the destruction of his enemies.
aShiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the 1words of bCush the Benjamite.
1. cO LORD my God, din thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
2. Lest he etear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is 2none to deliver.
3. O LORD my God, fif I have done this; if there be giniquity in my hands;
4. If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, hI have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
5. Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him itread down my life upon the earth, and lay jmine honour in the dust. Selah.
6. kArise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and lawake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
7. So mshall the congregation of the people *compass thee about: for their sakes therefore nreturn thou on high.
8. The LORD shall judge the people: ojudge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
9. Oh plet the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but qestablish the just: rfor the righteous God trieth the hearts and *reins.
10. 3My sdefence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
11. 4God tjudgeth the righteous, and uGod is angry with the wicked every day.
12. If vhe turn not, he will wwhet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he xordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
14. Behold, yhe travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
15. 5He made a pit, and digged it, zand is fallen into the ditch which he made.
16. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own *pate.
17. aI will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity 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:) 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. 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. So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high. The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Metrical version
Psalm 7
C.M. Martyrdom
O LORD my God, in thee do I my confidence repose: Save and deliver me from all my persecuting foes; Lest that the enemy my soul should, like a lion, tear, In pieces rending it, while there is no deliverer. O LORD my God, if it be so that I committed this; If it be so that in my hands iniquity there is: If I rewarded ill to him that was at peace with me; (Yea, ev'n the man that without cause my foe was I did free); Then let the foe pursue and take my soul, and my life thrust Down to the earth, and let him lay mine honour in the dust. Rise in thy wrath, LORD, raise thyself, for my foes raging be; And, to the judgment which thou hast commanded, wake for me. So shall th' assembly of thy folk about encompass thee: Thou therefore, for their sakes, return unto thy place on high. The LORD he shall the people judge: my judge, JEHOVAH, be, After my righteousness, and mine integrity in me. O let the wicked's malice end; but stablish stedfastly The righteous: for the righteous God the hearts and reins doth try. In God, who saves th' upright in heart, is my defence and stay. God just men judgeth, God is wroth with ill men ev'ry day. If he do not return again, then he his sword will whet; His bow he hath already bent, and hath it ready set: He also hath for him prepared the instruments of death; Against the persecutors he his shafts ordained hath. Behold, he with iniquity doth travail, as in birth; A mischief he conceived hath, and falsehood shall bring forth. He made a pit, and digged it deep, another there to take; But he is fall'n into the ditch which he himself did make. Upon his own head his mischief shall be returned home; His vi'lent dealing also down on his own pate shall come. According to his righteousness the LORD I'll magnify; And will sing praise unto the name of GOD that is most high.
Here, accused of traitorous conspiracy against his sovereign by king Saul, or by Cush one of his courtiers, David, (1.) Appeals to God, concerning his innocency of that crime, ver. 3-5. (2.) He supplicates, that God, as governor of the world, and King of Israel, would protect him from danger, plead his cause and give judgment for him, ver. 1, 2, 6, 9. (3.) In the exercise of faith, he depends on God, to protect and deliver him, and to avenge the injuries he had sustained upon his implacable adversaries, ver. 10, 16. (4.) He resolves to ascribe the glory of all his deliverances to God alone, ver. 17. While I sing, let me contemplate the spotless innocency, the finished righteousness of my Redeemer, together with the injurious usage he received from his brethren of mankind and the fearful ruin which hath befallen, or awaits his incorrigible foes. Let me carefully approve myself in his sight who searcheth my heart, and trieth my reins, and who must quickly be my final judge. Let me implore the just vengeance of heaven, against my spiritual enemies. And not unto me, but to his name be the glory and praise of all my protection and deliverance.