0 A Shiggaion {shiggayon: impassioned ode} of David, which he sang to the LORD {YHWH, Hearer Of Song} concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.
1 LORD {YHWH, Trusted Refuge} my God, I have taken shelter in You {bekha: placing all confidence}; deliver me from all who chase me and bring me out unharmed.
2 Lest he tear my soul {nafshi: life essence} like a lion, ripping it apart, and there is no deliverer {matzil: active rescuer}.
3 O LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, my God {Elohai, Merciful Sovereign}, if I have done this, if there is injustice {avel: moral wrongdoing} in my hands.
4 If I have repaid my ally with evil {ra: moral harm}, and delivered my adversary {tzoreri: personal adversary} without cause.
5 Let the enemy pursue my soul {nafshi: life essence} and let him overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground, and let him lay my honor {khevodi: personal reputation} in the dust. Selah.
6 Arise, LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, in Your anger; be lifted up against the fury of my adversaries. Awake for me to the judgment {mishpat: decree of justice} You have commanded.
7 And let a congregation of peoples surround You {kha: addressed Judge}, and over it return to the heights {marom: exalted dwelling}.
8 The LORD {YHWH, Universal Judge} judges the peoples; give Your verdict for me, O LORD, in keeping with my righteousness {tsidqi: just conduct} and with the integrity that is within me.
9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end now, and may You {Elohim, Righteous Judge} establish the righteous {tsaddiq: just}; for You, the righteous God, examine hearts and kidneys.
10 God {Elohim, Shielding Refuge} is my shield; He saves the upright {yishrei-lev: morally straight} in heart.
11 God {Elohim, Righteous Judge} judges with righteousness {tsaddiq: faithful justice}, and God is angry every day.
12 If the wrongdoer does not turn back {yashuv: turn back}, He {Elohim, Righteous Judge} will hone His sword; He will bend His bow and make it ready.
13 And for him He {Elohim, Righteous Judge} has prepared instruments of death; His arrows He makes into burning shafts {ledolqim: blazing shafts}.
14 Behold, he conceives iniquity {aven: corrupt evil} and is pregnant with mischief, and gives birth to falsehood {sheqer: deliberate deception}.
15 He dug a pit {bor: deep snare} and excavated it, and he falls into the pit that he has made {yifal: self-caused result}.
16 His mischief {amalo: trouble-causing toil} comes back on his own head, and his violence will come down on his crown {kadkodo: top of the head}.
17 I will thank the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} in line with His {YHWH, Perfect Standard} righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.