1Lord my God, I take refuge in you;

save and deliver me from all who pursue me,

2or they will tear me apart like a lion

and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3Lord my God, if I have done this

and there is guilt on my hands—

4if I have repaid my ally with evil

or without cause have robbed my foe—

5then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;

let him trample my life to the ground

and make me sleep in the dust.^c

6Arise, Lord, in your anger;

rise up against the rage of my enemies.

Awake, my God; decree justice.

7Let the assembled peoples gather around you,

while you sit enthroned over them on high.

8Let the Lord judge the peoples.

Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,

according to my integrity, O Most High.

9Bring to an end the violence of the wicked

and make the righteous secure—

you, the righteous God

who probes minds and hearts.

10My shield^d is God Most High,

who saves the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge,

a God who displays his wrath every day.

12If he does not relent,

he^e will sharpen his sword;

he will bend and string his bow.

13He has prepared his deadly weapons;

he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14Whoever is pregnant with evil

conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.

15Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out

falls into the pit they have made.

16The trouble they cause recoils on them;

their violence comes down on their own heads.

17I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;

I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.