1
Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2
or they will tear me apart like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3
Lord my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands -
4
if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause have robbed my foe -
5
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust. 1
6
Arise, Lord, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7
Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8
Let the Lord judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure -
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.
10
My shield 2 is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11
God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12
If he does not relent,
he 3 will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13
He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14
Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15
Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16
The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.
17
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.