A Psalm of David .
1 Plead my cause , O LORD , with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler , and stand up for mine help .
3 Draw out also the spear , and stop the way against them that persecute 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 devise my hurt .
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind : and let the angel of the LORD chase them .
6 Let their way be dark and slippery : and let the angel of the LORD persecute them .
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul .
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares ; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself : into that very destruction let him fall .
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD : it shall rejoice in his salvation .
10 All 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 the needy 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 spoiling of my soul .
13 But as for me, when they were sick , my clothing was sackcloth : I humbled my soul with fasting ; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom .
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother : I bowed down heavily , as one that mourneth for his mother .
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced , and gathered themselves together : yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts , they gnashed upon me with their teeth .
17 Lord , how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions , my darling from the lions .
18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation : I will praise thee among much people .
19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause .
20 For they speak not peace : but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land .
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said , Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
22 This thou hast seen , O LORD : keep not silence : O LORD , be not far from me.
23 Stir up thyself , and awake to my judgment , even unto my cause , my God and my Lord .
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness ; and let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts , Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt : let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad , that favour my righteous cause : yea, let them say continually , Let the LORD be magnified , which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant .
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long .