1 S trive, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me:

2 T ake hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help;

3 A nd draw out the spear, and stop against my pursuers: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 L et them be put to shame and confounded that seek after my life; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that devise my hurt:

5 L et them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of Jehovah drive away;

6 L et their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of Jehovah pursue them.

7 F or without cause have they hidden for me their net a pit; without cause they have digged for my soul.

8 L et destruction come upon him unawares, and let his net which he hath hidden catch himself: for destruction let him fall therein.

9 A nd my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 A ll my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the afflicted from one stronger than he, yea, the afflicted and the needy from him that spoileth him!

11 U nrighteous witnesses rise up; they lay to my charge things which I know not.

12 T hey reward me evil for good, the bereavement of my soul.

13 B ut as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I chastened my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom:

14 I behaved myself as though a friend, a brother to me; I bowed down in sadness, as one that mourneth a mother.

15 B ut at my halting they rejoiced, and gathered together: the slanderers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew not; they did tear, and ceased not:

16 W ith profane jesters for bread, they have gnashed their teeth against me.

17 L ord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people.

19 L et not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; let them not wink with the eye that hate me without cause.

20 F or they speak not peace; and they devise deceitful words against the quiet in the land.

21 A nd they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, Aha! aha! our eye hath seen.

22 T hou hast seen, Jehovah: keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

23 S tir up thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and Lord!

24 J udge me, Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.

25 L et them not say in their heart, Aha! so would we have it. Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26 L et them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine adversity; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27 L et them exult and rejoice that delight in my righteousness; and let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant.

28 A nd my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, of thy praise, all the day.