The LORD Implored to Defend the Psalmist against the Wicked.

A [a]Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD [b]concerning Cush, a Benjaminite.

1O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge;

Save me from all those who pursue me, and rescue me,

2Or he will tear [c]my soul like a lion,

Dragging me away, while there is no one to rescue me.

3O LORD my God, if I have done this,

If there is injustice in my hands,

4If I have done evil to [d]my friend,

Or have plundered [e]my enemy for no reason,

5Let the enemy pursue [f]my soul and overtake [g]it;

And let him trample my life to the ground

And lay my glory in the dust. Selah

6Arise, LORD, in Your anger;

Raise Yourself against the rage of my enemies,

And stir Yourself [h]for me; You have ordered judgment.

7Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,

And return on high over it.

8The LORD judges the peoples;

[i]Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.

9Please let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;

For the righteous God puts hearts and [j]minds to the test.

10My shield is [k]with God,

Who saves the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge,

And a God who shows indignation every day.

12If one does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;

He has bent His bow and taken aim.

13He has also prepared deadly weapons for Himself;

He makes His arrows fiery shafts.

14Behold, an evil person is pregnant with injustice,

And he conceives harm and gives birth to lies.

15He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,

And has fallen into the hole which he made.

16His harm will return on his own head,

And his violence will descend on the top of his own head.

17I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness

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