| 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 mine help. |
| 3 | Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto 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 have they 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 unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? |
| 11 | False witnesses did rise up; 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 mine 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 mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together 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 much people. |
| 19 | Let not them that are mine 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 | Yea, 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] unto 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 mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me. |
| 27 | Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which 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. |
