1 O Lord, stand against those who stand against me. Fight those who fight me.

By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,

2 T ake hold of a safe-covering and rise up to help me.

Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,

3 T ake a spear and battle-ax against those who come to get me. Say to my soul, “I am the One Who saves you.”

And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, `Thy salvation I.'

4 L et the people be ashamed and without honor who want to take my life. Let those be turned away and brought to shame who plan to hurt me.

They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.

5 L et them be like straw in the wind. May the angel of the Lord drive them away.

They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.

6 L et their way be dark and dangerous, with the angel of the Lord going to get them.

Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.

7 F or without a reason they hid their net for me. Without a reason, they dug a hole for my soul.

For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.

8 L et them be destroyed before they know it. And let them be caught in their own net. May they destroy themselves as they fall into their own hole.

Meet him doth desolation -- he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

9 M y soul will be happy in the Lord. It will be full of joy because He saves.

And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.

10 A ll my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You? Who saves the weak from those too strong for them? Who saves the poor from those who would rob them?”

All my bones say, `Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.'

11 P eople come telling lies. They ask me of things that I do not know.

Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.

12 T hey pay me what is bad in return for what is good. My soul is sad.

They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,

13 B ut when they were sick, I put on clothes made from hair. With no pride in my soul, I would not eat. And I prayed with my head on my chest.

And I -- in their sickness my clothing sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.

14 I went about as if it were my friend or brother. I put my head down in sorrow, like one crying for his mother.

As a friend, as my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.

15 B ut when I would fall, they would gather together in joy. Those who say things to hurt people would gather against me. I did not know them. They spoke against me without stopping.

And -- in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;

16 T hey ground their teeth at me like bad people making fun of others at a special supper.

With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.

17 L ord, how long will You look on? Save me from being destroyed by them. Save my life from the lions.

Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.

18 I will give You thanks in the big meeting. I will praise You among many people.

I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.

19 D o not let those who hate me for no reason stand over me with joy. Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink their eye.

Mine enemies rejoice not over me falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.

20 T hey do not speak peace. But they make up lies against those who are quiet in the land.

For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,

21 A nd they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “O, O, our eyes have seen it.”

And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, `Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'

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

Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord -- be not far from me,

23 A wake Yourself. Come and help me. Fight for me, my God and my Lord.

Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.

24 S ay what is right or wrong with me, O Lord my God, because You are right and good. Do not let them have joy over me.

Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.

25 D o not let them say in their heart, “O, just what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

They do not say in their heart, `Aha, our desire.' They do not say, `We swallowed him up.'

26 L et all who are happy because of my trouble be ashamed and without honor. Let those who think they are better than I, be covered with shame and without honor.

They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me.

27 L et them call out for joy and be glad, who want to see the right thing done for me. Let them always say, “May the Lord be honored. He is pleased when all is going well for His servant.”

They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, `Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.'

28 A nd my tongue will tell about how right and good You are, and about Your praise all day long.

And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!