¶ A Psalm of David. Plead¹ my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight² against them that fight against me.

³Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Draw out also the spear, and stop⁴ the way against them that persecute me: say⁵ unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Let them be confounded⁶ and put to shame that⁷ seek after my soul: let them be turned⁸ back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

Let them be as chaff⁹ before the wind: and¹⁰ let the angel of the LORD chase them.

Let their¹¹ way be dark and slippery¹²: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

For without¹³ cause have they hid¹⁴ for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

Let destruction¹⁵ come upon him at unawares¹⁶; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into¹⁷ that very destruction let him fall.

¹⁸And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

¶ All¹⁹ my bones shall say, LORD, who²⁰ is like unto thee, which²¹ deliverest the poor from him that is too²² strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

¶ False witnesses²³ did rise up; they laid²⁴ to my charge things that I knew not.

They²⁵ rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling²⁶ of my soul²⁷.

But as for me, when²⁸ they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled²⁹ my soul with fasting; and my prayer³⁰ returned into mine own bosom.

I behaved³¹ myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one³² that mourneth for his mother.

But in mine³³ adversity³⁴ they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects³⁵ gathered themselves together against me, and I knew³⁶ it not; they³⁷ did tear me, and ceased not:

With hypocritical³⁸ mockers in feasts, they gnashed³⁹ upon me with their teeth.

¶ Lord, how⁴⁰ long wilt thou look⁴¹ on? rescue⁴² my soul from their destructions, my darling⁴³ from the lions.

I will give⁴⁴ thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise⁴⁵ thee among much⁴⁶ people.

Let⁴⁷ not them that are mine enemies wrongfully⁴⁸ rejoice over me: neither let them wink⁴⁹ with the eye that hate⁵⁰ me without a cause.

¶ For⁵¹ they speak not peace: but⁵² they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet⁵³ in the land.

Yea,⁵⁴ they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha⁵⁵, aha, our eye hath seen it.

This⁵⁶ thou hast seen, O LORD: keep⁵⁷ not silence: O Lord, be⁵⁸ not far from me.

Stir⁵⁹ up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God⁶⁰ and my Lord.

Judge⁶¹ me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let⁶² them not rejoice over me.

Let them not say⁶³ in their hearts, Ah⁶⁴, so would we have⁶⁵ it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

Let them be ashamed⁶⁶ and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed⁶⁷ with shame and dishonour that magnify⁶⁸ themselves against me.

Let them shout⁶⁹ for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause⁷⁰: yea, let them say⁷¹ continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which⁷² hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

⁷³And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.