Contend with Those who Contend with Me

1Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

3Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I am your salvation.

4Let 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.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

6Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have dig for my soul.

8Let destruction come on him at unawares; and let his net that he has hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like to you, which deliver the poor from him that is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him?

11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13But 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.

14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.

15But in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yes, the attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed on me with their teeth.

17Lord, how long will you look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18I will give you thanks in the great congregation: I will praise you among much people.

19Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye has seen it.

22This you have seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23Stir up yourself, and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to your righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26Let 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.

27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yes, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.