A psalma of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush of the tribe of Benjamin.

1I come to you for protection, O LORD my God.

Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!

2If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion,

tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3O LORD my God, if I have done wrong

or am guilty of injustice,

4if I have betrayed a friend

or plundered my enemy without cause,

5then let my enemies capture me.

Let them trample me into the ground

and drag my honor in the dust.

Interlude

6Arise, O LORD, in anger!

Stand up against the fury of my enemies!

Wake up, my God, and bring justice!

7Gather the nations before you.

Rule over them from on high.

8The LORD judges the nations.

Declare me righteous, O LORD,

for I am innocent, O Most High!

9End the evil of those who are wicked,

and defend the righteous.

For you look deep within the mind and heart,

O righteous God.

10God is my shield,

saving those whose hearts are true and right.

11God is an honest judge.

He is angry with the wicked every day.

12If a person does not repent,

Godb will sharpen his sword;

he will bend and string his bow.

13He will prepare his deadly weapons

and shoot his flaming arrows.

14The wicked conceive evil;

they are pregnant with trouble

and give birth to lies.

15They dig a deep pit to trap others,

then fall into it themselves.

16The trouble they make for others backfires on them.

The violence they plan falls on their own heads.

17I will thank the LORD because he is just;

I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.