Plead thou my cause, O LORD, with them that | strive with me,
* and fight thou against them that | fight against me.
2 Lay hand upon the | shield and buckler,
* and | stand up to help me.
3 Bring forth the spear, and stop the way against them | that pursue me:
* say unto my soul, | I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded, and put to shame, that seek | after• my soul;
* let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that im- | -agine mischief for me.
5 Let them be as the dust be- | -fore the wind,
* and the angel of the |LORD •scatter•ing them.
6 Let their way be | dark and slippery,
* and let the angel | of the LORD pursue them.
7 For they have privily laid their net to destroy me with- | -out a cause;
* yea, even without a cause have they made a | pit for my soul.
8 Let a sudden destruction come upon him unawares, and his net that he hath laid privily | catch himself;
* that he may fall | into• his own mischief.
9 And my soul shall be joyful | in the LORD;
* it shall re- | -joice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, who 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?
11 False witnesses did | rise up:
* they laid to my charge |things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me | evil• for good,
* to the great dis- | -comfort of my soul.
13 Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sack-cloth, and humbled my | soul with fasting;
* and my prayer shall turn | into• mine own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend | or my brother;
* I went heavily, as one that | mourneth for his mother.
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered them- | -selves together;
* yea, the very abjects came together against me unawares, making mouths at | me, and ceased not.
16 With the flatterers were | busy mockers,
* who gnashed up- | -on me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou | look upon this?
* O deliver my soul from the calamities which they bring on me, and my | darling from the lions.
18 So will I give thee thanks in the great | congregation;
* I will praise | thee among much people.
19 O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over | me ungodly;
* neither let them wink with their eyes, that | hate •me with•out a cause.
20 And why? their communing is | not for peace;
* but they imagine deceitful words against them that are | quiet in the land.
21 They gaped upon me with their | mouths, and said,
* Fie on thee! fie on thee! we | saw it with our eyes.
22 This thou hast | seen, O LORD;
* hold not thy tongue then; go not | far from me, O Lord.
23 Awake, and stand up to | judge my quarrel;
* avenge thou my cause, my | God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according | to thy righteousness;
* and let them not | triumph over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, There! there! | so would• we have it;
* neither let them say, | We •have de•voured him.
26 Let them be put to confusion and shame together, that rejoice | at my trouble;
* let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour, that | boast themselves against me.
27 Let them be glad and rejoice, that favour my | righteous dealing;
* yea, let them say alway, Blessed be the LORD, who hath pleasure in the pros- | -peri•ty of his servant.
28 And as for my tongue, it shall be talking | of thy righteousness,
* and of thy praise, | all the day long.
Glory be to the Father, and | to the Son,
* and | to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever shall be,
* world without | end. Amen.