1Plead thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me.
2Lay hand upon the shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3Bring out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul: let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.
5Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord scatter them.
6Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
7For without cause they have hid the pit and their net for me: without cause have they dug a pit for my soul.
8Let destruction come upon him at unawares, and let his net, that he hath laid privily, take him: let him fall into the same destruction.
9Then my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him, that is too strong for him! yea, the poor and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him!
11Cruel witnesses did rise up: they asked of me things that I knew not.
12They rewarded me evil for good, to have spoiled my soul.
13Yet I, when they were sick, I was clothed with a sack: I humbled my soul with fasting: and my prayer was turned upon my bosom.
14I behaved myself as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled myself, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother.
15But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew not: they tare me, and ceased not,
16With the false scoffers at banquets, gnashing their teeth against me.
17Lord, how long wilt thou behold this? deliver my soul from their tumult, even my desolate soul from the lions.
18So will I give thee thanks in a great Congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
19Let not them that are mine enemies unjustly rejoice over me, neither let them wink with the eye, that hate me without a cause.
20For they speak not as friends: but they imagine deceitful words against the quiet of the land.
21And they gaped on me with their mouths, saying, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.
22Thou hast seen it, O Lord: keep not silence: be not far from me, O Lord.
23Arise and wake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.
25Let them not say in their hearts, O our soul rejoice: neither let them say, We have devoured him.
26Let them be confounded, and put to shame together, that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with confusion and shame, that lift up themselves against me.
27But let them be joyful and glad, that love my righteousness: yea, let them say always, Let the Lord be magnified, which loveth the prosperity of his servant.
28And my tongue shall utter thy righteousness, and thy praise every day.