1 ¶ Plead my cause, O LORD, with those that strive with me; fight against those that fight against me.

Strive, 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 in my help.

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help;

3 D raw out also the spear, and stop the way against those that persecute me; say unto my soul; I am thy saving health.

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

4 L et 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.

Let 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 the LORD chase them.

Let 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 the LORD persecute them.

Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of Jehovah pursue them.

7 F or without cause they have hid their net for me in a pit, which without cause they have dug for my soul.

For 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 at unawares, and let his net that he has hid catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall.

Let 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 the LORD; it shall rejoice in his saving health.

And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 A ll my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, who delivers the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him?

All 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 ¶ False witnesses rose up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they lay to my charge things which I know not.

12 T hey rewarded me evil for good until my soul was alone.

They 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 humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer rose up in my bosom.

But 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 he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.

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 in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; yea, the smiters gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they tore me apart and did not cease:

But 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 immature hypocritical mockers, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

With profane jesters for bread, they have gnashed their teeth against me.

17 ¶ Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Restore my soul from their destructions, my life from the lions.

Lord, 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 many people.

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

19 L et not those that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those that hate me wink with the eye without a cause.

Let 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 do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against those that are meek in the land.

For they speak not peace; and they devise deceitful words against the quiet in the land.

21 Y ea, they opened their mouth wide against me and said, Aha, aha, our eye has seen it.

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

22 T his thou hast seen, O LORD; do not keep silence; O Lord, do not be far from me.

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

23 S tir up thyself and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Stir up thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and Lord!

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

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

25 L et them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it; let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

Let 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 my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

Let 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 shout for joy and be glad that favour my righteous cause; let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the peace of his slave.

Let 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 speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, of thy praise, all the day.