A Psalm of David. 1 Plead my cause, oh, Jehovah, with those who strive with me: fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3 Draw out also the spear and confront those who persecute me: say to my mind, I am your Salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame who seek after my life; let them be turned back and brought to confusion who devise my hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of Jehovah chase them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of Jehovah persecute them.
7 For, without cause, they have hidden their net in a pit for me, which, without cause, they have dug for me.
8 Let destruction come upon him unawares; and let his net that he has hidden catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9 And my mind shall be joyful in Jehovah: it shall rejoice in His salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like You Who deliver the poor from him who is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs [tears away from] him?
11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I did not know.
12 They rewarded me evil for good to the sorrow of my mind.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humiliated my inner self with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily as one who mourns for his mother.
15 But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together: yes, the fearful gathered themselves together against me and I didn't know it; they did tear me, and didn't stop:
16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they grit their teeth at me.
17 Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue my life from their destructive actions, My darling [the church] from the lions.
18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation: I will praise You among much people.
19 Let not those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
20 For they do not speak completeness: but they devise deceitful matters against those who are quiet in the land.
21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye has seen it.
22 This You have seen, oh, Jehovah. Don't keep silence: Oh Lord, be not far from me.
23 Stir up Yourself and awake to my judgment, to my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, oh, Jehovah, my God, according to Your righteousness; and don't let them rejoice over me.
25 Don't let them say in their minds, Ah, so would we have it: Don't let them say, We have swallowed him up.
26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together who rejoice at my hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who make themselves great.
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, who favor my righteous cause: yes, let them say continually, Let Jehovah be magnified, Who has pleasure in the completeness of His servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.