A Psalm of David.

     1Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
            Fight against those who fight against me.

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

     3Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me;
            Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

     4Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;
            Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.

     5Let them be like chaff before the wind,
            With the angel of the LORD driving them on.

     6Let their way be dark and slippery,
            With the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

     7For without cause they hid their net for me;
            Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.

     8Let destruction come upon him unawares;
            And let the net which he hid catch himself;
            Into that very destruction let him fall.

     9And my soul shall rejoice in the LORD;
            It shall exult in His salvation.

     10All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like Thee,
            Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him,
            And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”

     11Malicious witnesses rise up;
            They ask me of things that I do not know.

     12They repay me evil for good,
            To the bereavement of my soul.

     13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
            I humbled my soul with fasting;
            And my prayer kept returning to my bosom.

     14I went about as though it were my friend or brother;
            I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

     15But at my stumbling they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together;
            The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me,
            They slandered me without ceasing.

     16Like godless jesters at a feast,
            They gnashed at me with their teeth.

     17Lord, how long wilt Thou look on?
            Rescue my soul from their ravages,
            My only life from the lions.

     18I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation;
            I will praise Thee among a mighty throng.

     19Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me;
            Neither let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.

     20For they do not speak peace,
            But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

     21And they opened their mouth wide against me;
            They said, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!”

     22Thou hast seen it, O LORD, do not keep silent;
            O Lord, do not be far from me.

     23Stir up Thyself, and awake to my right,
            And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

     24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Thy righteousness;
            And do not let them rejoice over me.

     25Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, our desire!”
            Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

     26Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress;
            Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.

     27Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication;
            And let them say continually, “The LORD be magnified,
            Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.”

     28And my tongue shall declare Thy righteousness
            And Thy praise all day long.