New King James Version | NET Bible |
1A Meditation of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, | 1A musical composition by David, which he sang to the LORD concerning a Benjaminite named Cush. O LORD my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me! |
2Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver. | 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 this: If there is iniquity in my hands, | 3O LORD my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions, |
4If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause, | 4or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy, |
5Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah | 5may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah) |
6Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! | 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! |
7So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high. | 7The countries are assembled all around you; take once more your rightful place over them! |
8The LORD shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me. | 8The LORD judges the nations. Vindicate me, LORD, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One! |
9Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. | 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! |
10My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart. | 10The Exalted God is my shield, the one who delivers the morally upright. |
11God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. | 11God is a just judge; he is angry throughout the day. |
12If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. | 12If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot his bow. |
13He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. | 13He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows. |
14Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. | 14See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies-- |
15He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. | 15he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made. |
16His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. | 16He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head. |
17I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. | 17I will thank the LORD for his justice; I will sing praises to the sovereign LORD! |
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