The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 7
In brief
Psalm 7 is a lament of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite. David is accused and pursued, he takes refuge in God and asks him to judge him according to his innocence. He affirms that God is a righteous judge, that the wicked reap what they prepare, and that his own shield is God, who saves the upright in heart. The psalm ends with thanksgiving. It helps us pray when we are suffering an unjust accusation.
The chapter in 5 parts
1Yahweh, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
2lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver.
3Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,
4if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary),
5let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust.
6Arise, Yahweh, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment.
7Let the congregation of the peoples surround you. Rule over them on high.
8Yahweh administers judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Yahweh, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me.
9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.
10My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
11God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.
12If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow.
13He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows.
14Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood.
15He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made.
16The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
17I will give thanks to Yahweh according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.
Key verses
Yahweh, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
The psalm opens with a reflex: taking refuge in God before any defense. The title mentions Cush, a Benjamite otherwise unknown, probably linked to the hostility of Saul's court.
Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary), let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust.
David accepts being judged: if I am guilty, let the enemy pursue me. He prays with honesty, which does not mean claiming to be perfect but refusing to carry a specific accusation.
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
The verse of the shield: protection does not come from a technique but from God himself, who saves the upright in heart. Paul takes up this image in Ephesians 6:16.
God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.
God is a righteous judge. His anger against evil is tied to his justice, which reassures those who suffer injustice. It does not authorize us to take revenge ourselves.
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What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Psalm 7
What does “my shield is with God” (Psalm 7:10) mean?
David says that his protection rests neither on his weapons nor on his allies, but on God himself, who saves the upright in heart. He does not promise the absence of battle. He affirms that whoever takes refuge in God is not left alone facing his accusers.
Who is Cush in the title of Psalm 7?
The title speaks of Cush, a Benjamite. The Bible tells of no episode where he appears. He belongs to Saul's tribe, which suggests someone close to the king who accused David. Commentators disagree about his identity, and the text does not allow us to decide.
How do you pray Psalm 7 when facing injustice?
Start by taking refuge in God (verse 1). Then examine your heart, as David does in verses 3 to 5: if you have a share of the wrong, admit it. Then hand the judgment over to God, the righteous judge, without taking revenge. Finish by thanking him for his righteousness, as in verse 17.
Articles quoting Psalm 7
World English Bible translation — public domain.