Psalm 7

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes:

(vv.1-9) 85 Martyrdom, 61 Farrant

(vv.10-17) 105 St Andrew

1    O Lord my God, in thee do I

            my confidence repose:

      Save and deliver me from all

            my persecuting foes;

2    Lest that the enemy my soul

            should, like a lion, tear,

      In pieces rending it, while there

            is no deliverer.

3    O Lord my God, if it be so

            that I committed this;

      If it be so that in my hands

            iniquity there is:

4    If I rewarded ill to him

            that was at peace with me;

      (Yea, ev’n the man that without cause

            my foe was I did free;)

5    Then let the foe pursue and take

            my soul, and my life thrust

      Down to the earth, and let him lay

            mine honour in the dust.

6    Rise in thy wrath, Lord, raise thyself,

            for my foes raging be;

      And, to the judgment which thou hast

            commanded, wake for me.

7    So shall th’ assembly of thy folk

            about encompass thee:

      Thou, therefore, for their sakes, return

            unto thy place on high.

8    The Lord he shall the people judge:

            my judge, JEHOVAH, be,

      After my righteousness, and mine

            integrity in me.

9    O let the wicked’s malice end;

            but stablish stedfastly

      The righteous: for the righteous God

            the hearts and reins doth try.

10  In God, who saves th’ upright in heart,

            is my defence and stay.

      God just men judgeth, God is wroth

            with ill men ev’ry day.

12  If he do not return again,

            then he his sword will whet;

      His bow he hath already bent,

            and hath it ready set:

13  He also hath for him prepar’d

            the instruments of death;

      Against the persecutors he

            his shafts ordained hath.

14  Behold, he with iniquity

            doth travail, as in birth;

      A mischief he conceived hath,

            and falsehood shall bring forth.

15  He made a pit, and digg’d it deep,

            another there to take;

      But he is fall’n into the ditch

            which he himself did make.

16  Upon his own head his mischief

            shall be returned home;

      His vi’lent dealing also down

            on his own pate shall come.

17  According to his righteousness

            the Lord I’ll magnify;

      And will sing praise unto the name

            of God that is most high.