O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, 1
or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. 2
O LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands- 3
if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe- 4
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. 5
Arise, O LORD, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. 6
Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high; 7
let the LORD judge the peoples. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. 8
O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure. 9
My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. 10
God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day. 11
If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. 12
He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows. 13
He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. 14
He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. 15
The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. 16
I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. 17