Contend, O LORD
, with those who acontend
with me; Fight
against
those who bfight
against me.
Take hold
of 1 abuckler
and shield
And rise
up for bmy help
.
Draw also the spear
and 1the battle-axe
to meet
those who pursue
me; Say
to my soul
, "I am ayour salvation
."
Let those be aashamed and dishonored
who seek
my 1life
; Let those be bturned
back
and humiliated
who devise
evil
against me.
Let them be alike chaff before
the wind
, With the angel
of the LORD
driving
them on.
Let their way be dark
and aslippery
, With the angel
of the LORD
pursuing
them.
For awithout cause
they bhid
their net
for me; Without
cause
they dug
a 1pit
for my soul
.
Let adestruction come
upon him unawares
, And blet the net
which
he hid
catch
himself; Into that very cdestruction
let him fall
.
And my soul shall arejoice
in the LORD
; It shall bexult
in His salvation
.
All my abones
will say
, "LORD
, bwho
is like
You, Who delivers
the afflicted
from him cwho
is too
strong
for him, And dthe afflicted
and the needy
from him who robs
him?"
aMalicious witnesses
rise
up; They ask
me of things that I do not know
.
They arepay me evil
for good
, To the bereavement
of my soul
.
But as for me, awhen they were sick, my bclothing
was sackcloth
; I chumbled
my soul
with fasting
, And my dprayer
kept returning
to my bosom
.
I went about as though it were my friend
or brother
; I abowed
down
1mourning
, as one
who
sorrows
for a mother
.
But aat my 1stumbling they rejoiced
and gathered
themselves together; The 2 bsmiters
whom I did not know
gathered
together against
me, They 3 cslandered
me without
ceasing
.
Like godless jesters
at a feast
, They agnashed
at me with their teeth
.
Lord, ahow
long
will You look
on? Rescue
my soul
bfrom their ravages
, My conly
life from the lions
.
I will agive You thanks
in the great
congregation
; I will bpraise
You among a mighty
throng
.
aDo not let those who are wrongfully bmy enemies
rejoice
over me; Nor let those cwho hate
me without
cause
1 dwink
maliciously
.
For they do not speak peace
, But they devise
adeceitful
words
against
those who
are quiet
in the land
.
They aopened their mouth
wide
against
me; They said
, " bAha
, aha
, our eyes
have seen
it!"
aYou have seen it, O LORD
, bdo not keep
silent
; O Lord
, cdo not be far
from me.
aStir up Yourself, and awake
to my right
And to my cause
, my God
and my Lord
.
aJudge me, O LORD
my God
, according to Your righteousness
, And bdo not let them rejoice
over me.
Do not let them say in their heart
, " aAha
, our desire
!" Do not let them say
, "We have bswallowed
him up!"
Let athose be ashamed and humiliated
altogether
who rejoice
at my distress
; Let those be bclothed
with shame
and dishonor
who cmagnify
themselves over
me.
Let them ashout for joy
and rejoice
, who
favor
bmy vindication
; And clet them say
continually
, "The LORD
be magnified
, Who
ddelights
in the prosperity
of His servant
."
And amy tongue shall declare
Your righteousness
And Your praise
all
day
long.