David’s, which he sang for Yahweh concerning the Kushite [Sudanese] words. The Binyaminite.
1 Yahweh my God, in you I take shelter
– deliver me from all who are pursuing me, and rescue me,
2 Lest like a lion, one tears my life apart,
ripping me to pieces and no one to rescue.
3 Yahweh my God, if I did this,
— if there’s evil in my palms
–4 If I have dealt something bad to my friend,
but released my adversary without reason,
5 May the enemy pursue my life and overtake me,
may he trample my life to the ground,
may he tread down my honour in the dirt. (Rise)
6 Rise up, Yahweh, in your anger;
lift yourself up at the rage of my attackers.
Wake up for me, you must have ordered judgement
7 Let the assembly of the peoples come round you.
– over it return on high;
8Yahweh must rule the peoples.
Exercise justice for me, Yahweh,
as I am innocent and as the integrity in me
9The bad ways of the wicked must, please, come to an end,
and you must establish the righteous.
The faithful God
is one who tests hearts and minds.
10God is my shield on high,
one who delivers people who are upright in heart.
11God exercises justice for the faithful person;
God is indignant each day.
12 If someone doesn’t turn back, he whets his sword;
he’s directed his bow and fixed it.
13 He’s fixed deadly weapons for himself,
he makes his arrows into flames.
14 There, someone twists with trouble,
he’s pregnant with oppression, he gives birth to falsehood.
15 He’s dug a cistern and made it deep,
but he’s fallen into the hole he makes.
16 His act of oppression comes back on to his own head,
his violence comes down on his own skull.
17 I will confess Yahweh in accordance with his faithfulness
and make music to the name of Yahweh, the One on High.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535)