1.
O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
do I = have I.
put my trust = flee for refuge. Hebrew. hasa. See App-69 .
persecute = pursue me. Refers probably to Saul.
2.
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
he: i.e. Cush.
tear. Hebrew. taraph. Refers to living prey.
my soul = me. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
while there is none to deliver. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "and there be no deliverer to rescue". Better, no sign of a rescuer. Compare Lamentations 5:8 .
3.
O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
iniquity. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . not the same as Psalms 7:14 .
in my hands. Hands put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is done by them.
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:)
evil. Hebrew. raa'. App-44 .
delivered = rescued. Aramaean and Syriac read "oppressed".
enemy = adversary. Hebrew. zarar .
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.
enemy = foe. Hebrew. 'oyeb.
persecute . . . take . . . tread. Figure of speech Anabasis. App-6 .
it = me.
Selah. Connecting the treading down of Psalms 7:5 with the rising up of Jehovah. See App-66 .
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.
people = peoples.
compass Thee about = gather round Thee: i.e. to hear Thy judgment.
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.
wickedness . . . wicked = lawlessness . . . lawless. Hebrew. rasha . App-44 .
10.
My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
defence = shield. See note on "shield", Psa 6:12 .
upright. Plural.
11.
God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
righteous. Plural.
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
12.
If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
He: i.e. God.
His sword . . . bow. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
13.
He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
ordaineth = will ordain.
14.
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, App-6 .
travaileth . . . conceived . . . brought forth. Figure of speech Anabasis. App-6 .
travaileth = will travail.
iniquity. Hebrew 'aven App-44 . i, not same word as Psalms 7:3 .
mischief. Hebrew. 'amal. App-44 .
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.
pate = head; especially the smooth skull. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for the whole person, for emphasis. From "plate" = the smooth top of the head (Skeat).
17.
I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
MOST HIGH. Hebrew. Elyon. See App-4 . First occurrence in Psalms. The first of thirty-six occurrences in O.T. is Genesis 14:18 .
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
upon Gittith = relating to the Feast of Tabernacles (for which it was suited), because it commemorated safe dwelling after deliverance. See App-66 .