1 C ontend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

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

3 B randish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4 L et those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

5 L et them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh’s angel driving them on.

6 L et their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh’s angel pursuing them.

7 F or without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

8 L et destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.

9 M y soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 A ll my bones shall say, “Yahweh, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”

11 U nrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.

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

13 B ut as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

15 B ut in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.

16 L ike the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

17 L ord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.

19 D on’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.

20 F or they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21 Y es, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”

22 Y ou have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.

23 W ake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!

24 V indicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.

25 D on’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

26 L et them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.

27 L et them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, “Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”

28 M y tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.