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Psalm 7

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Psalm 7
"O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust"
Psalm 7 from a medieval French manuscript
Other name
  • "Domine Deus meus in te speravi "
Textby David
LanguageHebrew (original)
Psalm 7
← Psalm 6
Psalm 8 →
BookBook of Psalms
Hebrew Bible partKetuvim
Order in the Hebrew part1
CategorySifrei Emet
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part19

Psalm 7 is the seventh psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me". In Latin, it is known as "Domine Deus meus in te speravi".[1] Its authorship is traditionally assigned to King David. The message in the psalm is that the righteous may seem weak, but ultimately will prevail against the wicked.[2][3]

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music, and has inspired hymns.

Text

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Hebrew

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The following table shows the Hebrew text[4][5] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse Hebrew English translation (JPS 1917)
1 שִׁגָּי֗וֹן לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֥ר לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה עַל־דִּבְרֵי־כ֝֗וּשׁ בֶּן־יְמִינִֽי׃‎ Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning Cush a Benjamite.
2 יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהַי בְּךָ֣ חָסִ֑יתִי הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי מִכׇּל־רֹ֝דְפַ֗י וְהַצִּילֵֽנִי׃‎ O LORD my God, in Thee have I taken refuge; Save me from all them that pursue me, and deliver me;
3 פֶּן־יִטְרֹ֣ף כְּאַרְיֵ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י פֹּ֝רֵ֗ק וְאֵ֣ין מַצִּֽיל׃‎ Lest he tear my soul like a lion, Rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
4 יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהַי אִם־עָשִׂ֣יתִי זֹ֑את אִֽם־יֶשׁ־עָ֥וֶל בְּכַפָּֽי׃‎ O LORD my God, if I have done this; If there be iniquity in my hands;
5 אִם־גָּ֭מַלְתִּי שֽׁוֹלְמִ֥י רָ֑ע וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה צֽוֹרְרִ֣י רֵיקָֽם׃‎ If I have requited him that did evil unto me, Or spoiled mine adversary unto emptiness;
6 יִ֥רַדֹּֽף־אוֹיֵ֨ב ׀ נַפְשִׁ֡י וְיַשֵּׂ֗ג וְיִרְמֹ֣ס לָאָ֣רֶץ חַיָּ֑י וּכְבוֹדִ֓י ׀ לֶעָפָ֖ר יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן סֶֽלָה׃‎ Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it, And tread my life down to the earth; Yea, let him lay my glory in the dust. Selah
7 ק֘וּמָ֤ה יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ הִ֭נָּשֵׂא בְּעַבְר֣וֹת צוֹרְרָ֑י וְע֥וּרָה אֵ֝לַ֗י מִשְׁפָּ֥ט צִוִּֽיתָ׃‎ Arise, O LORD, in Thine anger, Lift up Thyself in indignation against mine adversaries; Yea, awake for me at the judgment which Thou hast commanded.
8 וַעֲדַ֣ת לְ֭אֻמִּים תְּסֽוֹבְבֶ֑ךָּ וְ֝עָלֶ֗יהָ לַמָּר֥וֹם שֽׁוּבָה׃‎ And let the congregation of the peoples compass Thee about, And over them return Thou on high.
9 יְהֹוָה֮ יָדִ֢ין עַ֫מִּ֥ים שׇׁפְטֵ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֑ה כְּצִדְקִ֖י וּכְתֻמִּ֣י עָלָֽי׃‎ O LORD, who ministerest judgment to the peoples, Judge me, O LORD, According to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
10 יִגְמׇר־נָ֬א רַ֨ע ׀ רְשָׁעִים֮ וּתְכוֹנֵ֢ן צַ֫דִּ֥יק וּבֹחֵ֣ן לִ֭בּוֹת וּכְלָי֗וֹת אֱלֹהִ֥ים צַדִּֽיק׃‎ Oh that a full measure of evil might come upon the wicked, And that Thou wouldest establish the righteous; For the righteous God trieth the heart and reins.
11 מָגִנִּ֥י עַל־אֱלֹהִ֑ים מ֝וֹשִׁ֗יעַ יִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃‎ My shield is with God, Who saveth the upright in heart.
12 אֱ֭לֹהִים שׁוֹפֵ֣ט צַדִּ֑יק וְ֝אֵ֗ל זֹעֵ֥ם בְּכׇל־יֽוֹם׃‎ God is a righteous judge, Yea, a God that hath indignation every day:
13 אִם־לֹ֣א יָ֭שׁוּב חַרְבּ֣וֹ יִלְט֑וֹשׁ קַשְׁתּ֥וֹ דָ֝רַ֗ךְ וַֽיְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃‎ If a man turn not, He will whet His sword, He hath bent His bow, and made it ready;
14 וְ֭לוֹ הֵכִ֣ין כְּלֵי־מָ֑וֶת חִ֝צָּ֗יו לְֽדֹלְקִ֥ים יִפְעָֽל׃‎ He hath also prepared for him the weapons of death, Yea, His arrows which He made sharp.
15 הִנֵּ֥ה יְחַבֶּל־אָ֑וֶן וְהָרָ֥ה עָ֝מָ֗ל וְיָ֣לַד שָֽׁקֶר׃‎ Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he conceiveth mischief, and bringeth forth falsehood.
16 בּ֣וֹר כָּ֭רָה וַֽיַּחְפְּרֵ֑הוּ וַ֝יִּפֹּ֗ל בְּשַׁ֣חַת יִפְעָֽל׃‎ He hath digged a pit, and hollowed it, And is fallen into the ditch which he made.
17 יָשׁ֣וּב עֲמָל֣וֹ בְרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וְעַ֥ל קׇ֝דְקֳד֗וֹ חֲמָס֥וֹ יֵרֵֽד׃‎ His mischief shall return upon his own head, And his violence shall come down upon his own pate.
18 אוֹדֶ֣ה יְהֹוָ֣ה כְּצִדְק֑וֹ וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה שֵֽׁם־יְהֹוָ֥ה עֶלְיֽוֹן׃‎ I will give thanks unto the LORD according to His righteousness; And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

King James Version

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  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.

Structure

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The seventh psalm is a Psalm of David, and one of the Lamentations of an individual. A possible outline the psalm is as follows:[6]

  • Verse 2f: calling upon God for help
  • Verse 4–6: protestation of innocence
  • Verse 7–10: achieving desires of the Last Judgment over his enemies
  • Verse 11f: comforting certainty to YHWH
  • Verse 13–17: Comparison of the wicked enemy the world court
  • Verse 18: Vows.

Superscription

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A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

This line is verse 1 in Hebrew texts.[7] The Hebrew word shiggayon, which appears in the superscription, is of unknown meaning,[8] perhaps indicating an emotional song.[9]

Uses

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Psalm 7 in Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Folio 88r - Psalm VII in the Musée Condé, Chantilly

Judaism

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In Judaism, Psalm 7 holds significance as it is recited on the holiday of Purim. This psalm is included in the liturgy and traditions associated with Purim, a holiday commemorating the salvation of the Jewish people from the threat of extermination as described in the Book of Esther. Jews recite Psalm 7 as part of their Purim observance, emphasizing themes of trust in God's deliverance and protection from enemies.[10][11]

The recitation of Psalm 7 during Purim serves as a reminder of the historical events and the unwavering trust in God's help during times of adversity. The psalm reflects the broader Jewish tradition of turning to the Book of Psalms for solace, inspiration, and spiritual guidance.[12]

Psalm 7 is also included in other Jewish liturgical settings and may be recited in personal prayer as a source of comfort and strength. Its message of seeking divine justice and protection resonates with Jewish worshipers as they invoke God's mercy and guidance in their daily lives.[13]

Overall, Psalm 7 remains a cherished part of Jewish religious practice, symbolizing faith in God's deliverance and a source of inspiration in times of need.[14]

In Protestant revivalism

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Jonathan Edwards used some of the imagery from Psalm 7 in his 1741 sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

Psalm 7:12–13 was used in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God as:

The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string,
and justice bends the arrow at your heart,
and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God,
and that of an angry God, without any promise
or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment
from being made drunk with your blood.

A takeoff on this imagery used by the book by Brian Zahnd is Sinners in the hands of a loving God.[15]

The arrow imagery will occur 15 times in Psalms, of God, of His enemies and even of children of blessed people.[16]

Catholicism

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Around 530, St. Benedict of Nursia choose this psalm for the Tuesday office of Prime. According to the rule of St. Benedict, it was the first of three psalms.[17] This tradition is still respected in a number of monasteries.

In the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 7 is recited during the Office of Midday on Mondays in the first week of the four weekly cycle of liturgical prayers.

Book of Common Prayer

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In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the first day of the month.[18]

Musical settings

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Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a paraphrase of Psalm 7 in German, "Auf dich trau ich, mein Herr und Gott", SWV 103, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628.

References

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  1. ^ "Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 7". Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  2. ^ The Artscroll Tehillim, p. 10.
  3. ^ Janowski, Bernd (1999), "JHWH der Richter – ein rettender Gott. Psalm 7 und das Motiv des Gottesgerichts", Die rettende Gerechtigkeit. Beiträge zur Theologie des Alten Testaments (in German), vol. 2, Neukirchen-Vluyn, pp. 92–124.
  4. ^ "Psalms – Chapter 7". Mechon Mamre.
  5. ^ "Psalms 7 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
  6. ^ Gunkel, Hermann (1986), Die Psalmen [The Psalms] (in German), p. 24.
  7. ^ New King James Version, footnote a
  8. ^ Davidson, Robert (1998). The vitality of worship: a commentary on the book of Psalms. W.B. Eerdmans. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-8028-4246-6.
  9. ^ Wartburg Project, Footnote a at Psalm 7:1 in the Evangelical Heritage Version
  10. ^ The Artscroll Tehillim, page 329
  11. ^ See also Séfer Tehilim, de Rachi, XIe siècle.
  12. ^ Psalm 7 in Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Folio 88r - Psalm VII in the Musée Condé, Chantilly
  13. ^ The Artscroll Tehillim, page 329
  14. ^ The Artscroll Tehillim, page 329
  15. ^ Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News, Brian Zahnd, 2017
  16. ^ Bible search results
  17. ^ tradiction de Prosper Guéranger, Règle de saint Benoît, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p. 46.
  18. ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 199-200
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