1 A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush. O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me. Rescue me! 2 Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion; they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.⁠a 3 O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions, 4 or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy, 5 may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah) 6 Stand up angrily, Lord. Rise up with raging fury against my enemies. Wake up for my sake, and execute the judgment you have decreed for them. 7 The countries are assembled all around you; take once more your rightful place over them. 8 The Lord judges the nations.⁠b Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One. 9 May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end. But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine hearts and kidneys³².⁠c 10 The Exalted God is my shield, the one who delivers the morally upright. 11 God is a just judge; he is angry throughout the day. 12 If a person does not repent, God will wield his sword. He has prepared to shoot his bow. 13 He has prepared deadly weapons to use against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows. 14 See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies— 15 he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made.⁠d 16 He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans— and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head. 17 I will thank the Lord for his justice; I will sing praises to the Lord Most High!