1. "A Psalm of David." Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me: fight against those who fight against me.
2. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3. Draw out also the spear, and close up the way against those who pursue me: say to my soul, I am your salvation.
4. Let them be disappointed 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 pursue them.
7. For without any reason have they hid for me their net in a pit, which for no reason they have dug for my soul.
8. Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly; and let his net that he has 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 you, who delivers the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that plunders him?
11. False witnesses rose up; they accused me of things that I knew not.
12. They repaid me evil for good to the plundering 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 with grief, as one that mourns for his mother.
15. But in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the outcasts gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it; they tore me, and did not cease:
16. With hypocritical mockers at feasts, they gnashed at me with their teeth.
17. Lord, how long will you look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my beloved from the lions.
18. I will give you thanks in the great congregation: I will praise you among much people.
19. Let not those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me for no reason.
20. For they do not speak peace: but they devise deceitful purposes against those who are quiet in the land.
21. Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye has seen it.
22. This you have seen, O LORD: do not keep silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23. Stir up yourself, and awake to my judgment, even on my behalf, my God and my Lord.
24. Judge me, O LORD my God, according to your 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: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28. And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.
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