A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush.
1O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter.Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!
2Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion;they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.
3O Lord my God, if I have done what they say,or am guilty of unjust actions,
4or have wronged my ally,or helped his lawless enemy,
5may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me;may he trample me to deathand leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)
6Stand up angrily, Lord!Rise up with raging fury against my enemies!Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them!
7The countries are assembled all around you;take once more your rightful place over them!
8The Lord judges the nations.Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent,because I am blameless, O Exalted One!
9May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end!But make the innocent secure,O righteous God,you who examine inner thoughts and motives!
10The Exalted God is my shield,the one who delivers the morally upright.
11God is a just judge;he is angry throughout the day.
12If a person does not repent, God sharpens his swordand prepares to shoot his bow.
13He prepares to use deadly weapons against him;he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.
14See the one who is pregnant with wickedness,who conceives destructive plans,and gives birth to harmful lies –
15he digs a pitand then falls into the hole he has made.
16He becomes the victim of his own destructive plansand the violence he intended for others falls on his own head.
17I will thank the Lord for his justice;I will sing praises to the sovereign Lord!