| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. | 1Of David. Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. |
| 2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. | 2Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. |
| 3Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. | 3Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, "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. | 4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. |
| 5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. | 5May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; |
| 6Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. | 6may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. |
| 7For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. | 7Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, |
| 8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. | 8may ruin overtake them by surprise-- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. |
| 9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. | 9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. |
| 10All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? | 10My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them." |
| 11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. | 11Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. |
| 12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. | 12They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved. |
| 13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. | 13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, |
| 14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. | 14I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. |
| 15But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: | 15But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing. |
| 16With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. | 16Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. |
| 17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. | 17How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. |
| 18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. | 18I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. |
| 19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. | 19Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. |
| 20For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. | 20They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. |
| 21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. | 21They sneer at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it." |
| 22This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. | 22LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. |
| 23Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. | 23Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. |
| 24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. | 24Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me. |
| 25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. | 25Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up." |
| 26Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. | 26May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. |
| 27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. | 27May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant." |
| 28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. | 28My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long. |
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