Psalms

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up as my help.

Draw out also the spear and stop the way against those who persecute me; say to my soul, "I am your salvation."

Let them be confounded and put to shame who seek after my soul; let them be turned back and brought to confusion who 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 pursue them.

For without cause they hid their net in a pit for me, which without cause they digged for my soul.

Let destruction come upon him unawares; and let his net that he has hid catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall.

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in its salvation.

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?"

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 my own bosom.

I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.

But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; yes, the outcasts gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it; they did tear me and ceased not.

With hypocritical mockers at feasts, they gnashed on me with their teeth.

Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my precious life from the lions.

I will give you thanks in the great congregation; I will praise you among many people.

Let not those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.

For they speak not peace, but they devise deceitful matters against those who are quiet in the land.

yes, they opened their mouth wide against me and said, "Aha, aha, our eye has seen it."

This you have seen, O LORD; keep not silence. O Lord, be not far from me.

Stir up yourself and awake to my judgement, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

Judge me, O LORD my God, according to your 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 who rejoice at my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour who magnify themselves against me.

Let them shout for joy and be glad who favour my righteous cause; yes, let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.