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The Bible · 485 of 1189

Psalms 7

1.O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

2.Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3.O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4.If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5.Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6.Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7.So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8.The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9.Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10.My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11.God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12.If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13.He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14.Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15.He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16.His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17.I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Asked of Guide

Why does the psalmist ask God to both judge him and punish his enemies in the same prayer?

The psalmist asks God to judge him—“judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness”—because he wants vindication that his conscience and conduct are upright before God while under persecution. He names both requests to invite divine discernment: a personal examination of integrity and a public unmasking of the persecutor’s wickedness so justice can be seen by the community.

The chapter connects personal plea to communal order: verses 6–8 picture God arising “for the judgment” so “the congregation of the people” is encompassed, and verses 14–16 show the persecutor falling into the pit he dug. This mirrors themes in Proverbs, where wisdom promises that the schemes of the wicked return upon themselves and the righteous are established.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.