1This is a meditation by David, which he sang to Yahweh, concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite. Yahweh, my God, I find protection in you. Save me and rescue me from all those who are chasing me.
2Otherwise, they will tear my life apart like a lion, ripping it to pieces, with no one to deliver me.
3Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is any wrongdoing on my hands,
4if I have harmed a friend, or if I have failed to rescue someone who was my enemy for no reason,
5then let an enemy chase me down and catch me; let him trample my life to the ground and lay my honor in the dust. Pause.
6Rise up, Yahweh, in your anger. Stand up against the fury of my enemies. Wake up, for my sake! You have commanded judgment.
7Let the people gather around you. Rule over them from above.
8Yahweh judges the nations. Judge me, Yahweh, according to my goodness and the integrity I have.
9Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked end, but establish the righteous; for the righteous God examines minds and hearts.
10My protection comes from God, who saves those who are honest.
11God is a fair judge, a God who shows anger every day.
12If a person doesn’t change, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.
13He has also prepared his deadly weapons. He makes his flaming arrows ready.
14Look, he struggles with evil. Yes, he plans trouble and produces lies.
15He dug a pit and fell into the hole he made.
16The trouble he causes will come back on his own head. His violence will fall on his own skull.
17I will thank Yahweh for his goodness and sing praises to the name of Yahweh Most High.