A Psalm of David.
Plead my
cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me:
fight against them that fight against me.
02 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up
for mine help.
03 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way
against them that persecute me: say unto my soul,
I am thy salvation.
04 Let 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.
05 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let
the angel of the Lord chase them.
06 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let
the angel of the Lord persecute them.
07 For without cause have they hid for me their
net in a pit, which without cause they have
digged for my soul.
08 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and
let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into
that very destruction let him fall.
09 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it
shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All 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?
11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my
charge things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling
of my soul.
13 But 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.
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my
friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one
that mourneth for his mother.
15 But 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:
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16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they
gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my
soul from their destructions, my darling from the
lions.
18 I will give thee thanks in the great
congregation: I will praise thee among much
people.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully
rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the
eye that hate me without a cause.
20 For they speak not peace: but they devise
deceitful matters against them that are quiet in
the land.
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me,
and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
22 This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence:
O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment,
even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy
righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would
we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed
him up.
26 Let 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.
27 Let 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.
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness
and of thy praise all the day long.
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