Contend with My Opponents, O LORD

1Of Dauid. Pleade thou my cause O God, with them that striue with me: and fight thou agaynst them that fight against me.

2Lay hand vppon a shielde & buckler: and stande vp to helpe me.

3Bryng foorth the speare, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say vnto my soule, I am thy saluation.

4Let them be confounded and put to shame that seeke after my soule: let them be turned backe and brought to cofusion, that imagine mischiefe for me.

5Let them be as dust before the winde: and let the angell of God scatter them.

6Let their way be darke and slipperie: & let the angell of God persecute them.

7For without a cause they haue priuily layde for me a pit full of their nettes: without a cause they haue made a digyng vnto my soule.

8Let a sodayne destruction come vpon hym vnawares: and his net that he hath layde priuily catch hym selfe, let him fall into it with his owne destruction.

9And my soule shalbe ioyfull in God: it shall reioyce in his saluation.

10All my bones shall say, God who is lyke vnto thee? whiche deliuerest the poore from hym that is to strong for him: yea the poore and him that is in miserie, from him that spoyleth him.

11False witnesse did rise vp: they layde thinges to my charge that I know not.

12They rewarded me euill for good: to the great discomfort of my soule.

13Neuerthelesse, when they were sicke I did put on sackcloth: I afflicted my soule with fasting, and my prayer returned into myne owne bosome.

14I kept them company whersoeuer they went, as though they had ben my frende or brother: I went heauyly, as one that mourned for his mother.

15But in mine aduersitie they reioysed and gathered them together: yea, the very abiectes came together against me, yer I wyst they rented me a peeces and ceassed not.

16With hypocrites, scoffers, and parasites: they gnashed vpon me with their teeth.

17Lorde howe long wylt thou looke vpon this: O deliuer my soule from their raginges, and my dearling from Lions whelpes.

18So I wyll confesse it vnto thee in a great congregation: I will prayse thee among muche people.

19O let not my deceiptfull enemies triumph ouer me: let them not winke with an eye, that hate me without a cause.

20For they speake not peace: but they imagine deceiptfull wordes agaynst them that liue quietly in the lande.

21They gaped vpon me with their mouthes: and said this is well, this is wel, our eye hath seene.

22Thou hast seene this O God, holde not thy tongue then: go not farre from me O Lorde.

23Stirre thou and awake O my God and my Lorde: to iudge my cause and controuersie.

24Iudge me according to thy righteousnesse O God my Lorde: and let them not triumph ouer me.

25Let them not say in their heart, it is as we woulde haue it: neither let them say, we haue deuoured hym.

26Let them be put to confusion & shame all together that reioyce at my trouble: let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour that exalt them selues against me.

27Let them triumph with gladnesse and reioyce that be delighted with my righteousnesse: let them say alwayes, blessed be God whiche hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his seruaunt.

28And my tongue shalbe talking of thy righteousnesse: and of thy prayse all the day long.