Contend with My Opponents, O LORD

1Of David.

1 Contend, O YHWH, with my opponents;

fight with those fighting me!

2Take hold of shield and buckler,

and rise in help of me,

3and draw out the spear and javelin† against those pursuing me!

Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4Let them be shamed and dishonored,

those seeking my soul;

let them be turned back and confounded,

those planning evil for me!

5Let them be like chaff before the wind,

and the angel of YHWH driving them away.

6Let their path be darkness and slickness—

and let the angel of YHWH pursue them!

7For without cause, they have hidden a pit for me—their net;

they have dug one for my soul without cause.

8Let destruction come upon him that he shall not know,

and the net that he has hidden, let it catch him;

the destruction, let him fall into it!

9And my soul will rejoice in YHWH;

it will exult in His salvation.

10All my bones will say,

“O YHWH, who is like You?—

Snatching the afflicted from the one stronger than he,

and the afflicted one and the needy one from the one plundering him.”

11Violent witnesses rise up;

those whom I do not know; they interrogate me.

12They repay me evil in place of good,

to the bereavement of my soul.

13And I—

in their sickness my clothing is sackcloth;

I humbled my soul with fasting,

and my prayer returned upon my bosom.

14As for a friend

or brother to me—

I went about as one mourning;

in grief as for my mother, I bowed down.

15And in my stumbling, they were glad and gathered themselves together;

attackers they gathered together against me,

and ones I did not know,

they tore and did not cease.,

16Like godless mockers at a feast,†

they gnashed at me with their teeth.

17O Lord, how long will you look on?

Turn back my soul from their ravages,

my only one from the young lions!

18I will give You thanks in the great assembly;

among a mighty people I will praise You.

19Do not let my enemies rejoice over me in deception;

those hating me for no reason wink the eye.†

20For they do not speak peace,

and against the quiet of the land,

they devise words of deceit.

21And they opened wide against me their mouths;

they said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it!”

22You have seen it, O YHWH; do not be silent!

O Lord, do not be far from me!

23Rouse Yourself, and awaken to my judgment,

my God and my Lord, to my cause!

24Judge for me according to Your righteousness, O YHWH my God,

and do not let them rejoice over me.

25Do not let them say in their heart,

“Aha, our desire!”

Do not let them say,

“We have swallowed him up!”

26Let them be put to shame and brought to confusion

together,

those being glad at my distress;

may they be clothed with shame and dishonor,

those magnifying themselves over me!

27Let them shout for joy and be glad,

those desiring my vindication,

and let them say continually, “Let YHWH be magnified,

the One delighting in the welfare of His servant!”

28And my tongue shall utter Your righteousness—

Your praise all the day.