1 C ontend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me.

2 T ake hold of buckler and shield And rise up for my help.

3 D raw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4 L et those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.

5 L et them be like chaff before the wind, With the angel of the Lord driving them on.

6 L et their way be dark and slippery, With the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

7 F or without cause they hid their net for me; Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.

8 L et destruction come upon him unawares, And let the net which he hid catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall.

9 A nd my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; It shall exult in His salvation.

10 A ll my bones will say, “ Lord, who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”

11 M alicious witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I do not know.

12 T hey repay me evil for good, To 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 kept returning to my bosom.

14 I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

15 B ut at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me, They slandered me without ceasing.

16 L ike godless jesters at a feast, They gnashed at me with their teeth.

17 L ord, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, My only life from the lions.

18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng.

19 D o not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.

20 F or they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21 T hey opened their mouth wide against me; They said, “ Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!”

22 Y ou have seen it, O Lord, do not keep silent; O Lord, do not be far from me.

23 S tir up Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 J udge me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness, And do not let them rejoice over me.

25 D o not let them say in their heart, “ Aha, our desire!” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

26 L et those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress; Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.

27 L et them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.”

28 A nd my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.