Psalms

Lord, Save Me From My Persecutors2O Lord, my God, in you I take shelter; deliver me, and save me from all my pursuers,

lest lions tear me to pieces, with no one to rescue me.

O Lord, my God, if my hands are stained with guilt—

if with evil, I have repaid good, if I have plundered unjustly my opponent,

let the enemy hound me; let him crush me to the ground and lay down my liver in the dust.

Arise, O Lord, in your wrath; rise up against the fury of my foes. Awake, O my God, and judge the nations, for the time of judgment has come.

Let the nations gather around you, and you take your seat high above them.

Proclaim, O Lord, my righteousness; you see, that I am blameless.

Bring to an end the power of the wicked, but affirm the just, O righteous God, the searcher of mind and heart.

You cover me as a shield, Oh God, for you protect the upright.

A righteous judge is God, his anger ever awaiting those who refuse to repent.

God has his sword ready and sharpened; his bow bent and arrows aimed.

He has in hand, always ready, his deadly weapons and fiery darts.

Look at the one who conceived iniquity and is pregnant with mischief: miscarriage will result.

He digs a pit and makes it deep; he will fall into the trap he made.

His evil intent recoils upon his head; his wicked design comes back in his face.

I will rejoice in the Lord for his justice, and sing to the Most High in gratitude and praise.