A Psalm of David.
Plead
my cause, O LORD,
with them that strive
with me: fight
against them that fight
against me.
Take hold
of shield
and buckler,
and stand up
for mine help.
Draw out
also the spear,
and stop
the way against
them that persecute
me: say
unto my soul,
I am thy salvation.
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.
Let them be as chaff
before
the wind:
and let the angel
of the LORD
chase
them.
Let their way
be dark
and slippery:
and let the angel
of the LORD
persecute
them.
For without cause
have they hid
for me their net
in a pit,
which without cause
they have digged
for my soul.
Let destruction
come
upon him at unawares;
and let his net
that he hath hid
catch
himself: into that very destruction
let him fall.
And my soul
shall be joyful
in the LORD:
it shall rejoice
in his salvation.
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?
False
witnesses
did rise up;
they laid to my charge
things that I knew
not.
They rewarded
me evil
for good
to the spoiling
of my soul.
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.
I behaved
myself as though he had been my friend
or brother:
I bowed down
heavily,
as one that mourneth
for his mother.
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:
With hypocritical
mockers
in feasts,
they gnashed
upon me with their teeth.
Lord,
how long wilt thou look on?
rescue
my soul
from their destructions,
my darling
from the lions.
I will give thee thanks
in the great
congregation:
I will praise
thee among much
people.
Let not them that are mine enemies
wrongfully
rejoice
over me: neither let them wink
with the eye
that hate
me without a cause.
For they speak
not peace:
but they devise
deceitful
matters
against them that are quiet
in the land.
Yea, they opened their mouth
wide
against me, and said,
Aha,
aha,
our eye
hath seen
it.
This thou hast seen,
O LORD:
keep not silence:
O Lord,
be not far
from me.
Stir up
thyself, and awake
to my judgment,
even unto my cause,
my God
and my Lord.
Judge
me, O LORD
my God,
according to thy righteousness;
and let them not rejoice
over me.
Let them not say
in their hearts,
Ah,
so would we have it:
let them not say,
We have swallowed him up.
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.
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.
say
And my tongue
shall speak
of thy righteousness
and of thy praise
all the day
long.
