Psa 7:8-16 | NETfull | STEP | The Lord judges the nations. Vindicate me, Lord , because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One!

Psalms 7:8-16

8 The Lord judges the nations. ^{▼▼ The Lord judges the nations. In hyperbolic fashion the psalmist pictures the nations assembled around the divine throne (v. 7a). He urges God to take his rightful place on the throne (v. 7b) and then pictures him making judicial decisions that vindicate the innocent (see vv. 8–16).}
Vindicate me, Lord, because I am innocent, ^{▼▼ Heb “judge me, O Lord, according to my innocence.”}
because I am blameless, ^{▼▼ Heb “according to my blamelessness.” The imperative verb translated “vindicate” governs the second line as well.} O Exalted One! ^{▼▼ The Hebrew form עָלָי (’alay) has been traditionally understood as the preposition עַל (’al, “over”) with a first person suffix. But this is syntactically awkward and meaningless. The form is probably a divine title derived from the verbal root עָלָה (’alah, “ascend”). This relatively rare title appears elsewhere in the OT (see HALOT 824-25 s.v. I עַל, though this text is not listed) and in Ugaritic as an epithet for Baal (see G. R. Driver, Canaanite Myths and Legends, 98). See M. Dahood, Psalms (AB), 1:44–45, and P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1–50 (WBC), 98.}
9 May the evil deeds of the wicked ^{▼▼ In the psalms the Hebrew term רְשָׁעִים (r^esha’im, “wicked”) describes people who are proud, practical atheists (Ps 10:2, 4, 11) who hate God’s commands, commit sinful deeds, speak lies and slander (Ps 50:16–20), and cheat others (Ps 37:21). They oppose God and his people.} come to an end! ^{▼▼ The prefixed verbal form is a jussive, expressing an imprecation here.}
But make the innocent ^{▼▼ Or “the godly” (see Ps 5:12). The singular form is collective (see the plural “upright in heart” in v. 10), though it may reflect the personal focus of the psalmist in this context.} secure, ^{▼▼ The prefixed verbal form expresses the psalmist’s prayer or wish.}
O righteous God,
you who examine ^{▼▼ For other uses of the verb in this sense, see Job 7:18; Pss 11:4; 26:2; 139:23.} inner thoughts and motives! ^{▼▼ Heb “and [the one who] tests hearts and kidneys, just God.” The translation inverts the word order to improve the English style. The heart and kidneys were viewed as the seat of one’s volition, conscience, and moral character.}
10 The Exalted God is my shield, ^{▼▼ Traditionally, “my shield is upon God” (cf. NASB). As in v. 8, עַל (’al) should be understood as a divine title, here compounded with “God” (cf. NIV, “God Most High”). See M. Dahood, Psalms (AB), 1:45–46. The shield metaphor pictures God as a protector against deadly attacks.}
the one who delivers the morally upright. ^{▼▼ Heb “pure of heart.” The “heart” is here viewed as the seat of one’s moral character and motives. The “pure of heart” are God’s faithful followers who trust in and love the Lord and, as a result, experience his deliverance (see Pss 11:2; 32:11; 36:10; 64:10; 94:15; 97:11).}
11 God is a just judge;
he is angry throughout the day. ^{▼▼ Heb “God (the divine name אֵל [’el] is used) is angry during all the day.” The verb זֹעֵם (zo’em) means “be indignant, be angry, curse.” Here God’s angry response to wrongdoing and injustice leads him to prepare to execute judgment as described in the following verses.}
12 If a person ^{▼▼ Heb “If he”; the referent (a person who is a sinner) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The subject of the first verb is understood as the sinner who fails to repent of his ways and becomes the target of God’s judgment (vv. 9, 14–16).} does not repent, God sharpens his sword ^{▼▼ Heb “if he does not return, his sword he sharpens.” The referent (God) of the pronominal subject of the second verb (“sharpens”) has been specified in the translation for clarity.}
and prepares to shoot his bow. ^{▼▼ Heb “his bow he treads and prepares it.” “Treading the bow” involved stepping on one end of it in order to string it and thus prepare it for battle.}
13 He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; ^{▼▼ Heb “and for him he prepares the weapons of death.”}
he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows. ^{▼▼ Heb “his arrows into flaming [things] he makes.”}
14 See the one who is pregnant with wickedness,
who conceives destructive plans,
and gives birth to harmful lies – ^{▼▼ Heb “and he conceives harm and gives birth to a lie.”} ^{▼▼ Pregnant with wickedness…gives birth to harmful lies. The psalmist metaphorically pictures the typical sinner as a pregnant woman, who is ready to give birth to wicked, destructive schemes and actions.}
15 he digs a pit ^{▼▼ Heb “a pit he digs and he excavates it.” Apparently the imagery of hunting is employed; the wicked sinner digs this pit to entrap and destroy his intended victim. The redundancy in the Hebrew text has been simplified in the translation.}
and then falls into the hole he has made. ^{▼▼ The verb forms in vv. 15–16 describe the typical behavior and destiny of those who attempt to destroy others. The image of the evildoer falling into the very trap he set for his intended victim emphasizes the appropriate nature of God’s judgment.}
16 He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans ^{▼▼ Heb “his harm [i.e., the harm he conceived for others, see v. 14] returns on his head.”}
and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head. ^{▼▼ Heb “and on his forehead his violence [i.e., the violence he intended to do to others] comes down.”}