By David.
1 Contend, LORD, with those
who contend with me.
Fight against those
who fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler,
and stand up for my help.
3 Brandish the spear and block those
who pursue me.
Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 Let those who seek after my soul
be disappointed and brought to dishonour.
Let those who plot my ruin be turned
back and confounded.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind,
the LORD’s angel driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
the LORD’s angel pursuing them.
7 For without cause they have hidden their
net in a pit for me.
Without cause they have dug
a pit for my soul.
8 Let destruction come on him unawares.
Let his net that he has hidden
catch himself.
Let him fall into that destruction.
9 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 who is
too strong for him;
yes, the poor and the needy from him
who robs him?” 11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up.
They ask me about things that I don’t
know about.
12 They reward me evil for good,
to the bereaving of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my
clothing was sackcloth.
I afflicted my soul with fasting.
My prayer returned into my own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though it had been
my friend or my brother.
I bowed down mourning, as one who
mourns his mother.
15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and
gathered themselves together.
The attackers gathered themselves together
against me, and I didn’t know it.
They tore at me, and didn’t cease.
16 Like the profane mockers in feasts,
they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue my soul from their destruction,
my precious life from the lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly.
I will praise you amongst many people.
19 Don’t let those who are my enemies
wrongfully rejoice over me;
neither let those who hate me without
a cause wink their eyes.
20 For they don’t speak peace,
but they devise deceitful words
against those who are quiet in the land.
21 Yes, they opened their mouth
wide against me.
They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”
22 You have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent.
Lord, don’t be far from me.
23 Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God!
My Lord, contend for me!
24 Vindicate me, LORD my God, according
to your righteousness.
Don’t let them gloat over me.
25 Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha!
That’s the way we want it!”
Don’t let them say,
“We have swallowed him up!”
26 Let them be disappointed and confounded
together who rejoice at my calamity.
Let them be clothed with shame and
dishonour who magnify themselves against me.
27 Let those who favour my righteous cause
shout for joy and be glad.
Yes, let them say continually, “May the
LORD be magnified,
who has pleasure in the
prosperity of his servant!”
28 My tongue shall talk
about your righteousness
and about your praise all day long.
