A Prayer for Justice+

1O Lord, my God, I come to you for protection;

rescue me and save me from all who pursue me,

2or else like a lion they will carry me off

where no one can save me,

and there they will tear me to pieces.

3-4O Lord, my God, if I have wronged anyone,

if I have betrayed a friend

or without cause done violence to my enemy+ —

if I have done any of these things—

5then let my enemies pursue me and catch me,

let them cut me down and kill me

and leave me lifeless on the ground!

6Rise in your anger, O Lord!

Stand up against the fury of my enemies;

rouse yourself and help me!

Justice is what you demand,

7so bring together all the peoples around you,

and rule over them from above.+

8You are the judge of all people.

Judge in my favor, O Lord;

you know that I am innocent.

9 You are a righteous God

and judge our thoughts and desires.

Stop the wickedness of evildoers

and reward those who are good.

10God is my protector;

he saves those who obey him.

11God is a righteous judge

and always condemns the wicked.

12If they do not change their ways,

God will sharpen his sword.

He bends his bow and makes it ready;

13he takes up his deadly weapons

and aims his burning arrows.

14See how wicked people think up evil;

they plan trouble and practice deception.

15But in the traps they set for others,

they themselves get caught.

16So they are punished by their own evil

and are hurt by their own violence.

17I thank the Lord for his justice;

I sing praises to the Lord, the Most High.