English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1O LORD, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!

2Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.

3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!”

3Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say, “I will give you victory!”

4Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!

4Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.

5Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away!

5Blow them away like chaff in the wind— a wind sent by the angel of the LORD.

6Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!

6Make their path 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 life.

7I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.

8Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction!

8So let sudden ruin come upon them! Let them be caught in the trap they set for me! Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.

9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.

9Then I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be glad because he rescues me.

10All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

10With every bone in my body I will praise him: “LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”

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

11Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.

12They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.

12They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair.

13But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

13Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.

14I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.

14I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother.

15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;

15But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly.

16like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.

16They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.

17How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!

17How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions!

18I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.

18Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.

19Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.

19Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.

20For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.

20They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.

21They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”

21They shout, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!”

22You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!

22O LORD, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord.

23Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!

23Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord.

24Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!

24Declare me not guilty, O LORD my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.

25Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

25Don’t let them say, “Look, we got what we wanted! Now we will eat him alive!”

26Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!

26May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.

27Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”

27But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say, “Great is the LORD, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!”

28Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

28Then I will proclaim your justice, and I will praise you all day long.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.