1: [A Psalm] of David. Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2: Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. 3: Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I [am] thy salvation. 4: Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5: Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them]. 6: Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7: For without cause they have hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul. 8: Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. 9: And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10: All my bones shall say, LORD, who [is] like thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, even the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? 11: False witnesses arose; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not. 12: They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul. 13: But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom. 14: I behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother. 15: But in my adversity they rejoiced, and assembled themselves: [yes], the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not: 16: With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17: Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 18: I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among many people. 19: Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 20: For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land. 21: Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it]. 22: [This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23: Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] to my cause, my God and my Lord. 24: Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25: Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26: Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify [themselves] against me. 27: Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yes, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28: And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.
