1PLEAD my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

3Draw out the sword and flash it against them that persecute me; say unto my soul. I am your Saviour.

4Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise evil against me.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

6Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7For they have dug pits for me and have spread a snare for my soul.

8Let evil come upon them unawares; and let the net that they have hidden trap them; into that very pit which they have dug let them fall.

9My soul shall be joyful in God; it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the poor from his enemies, yea, the poor and the needy from him that seizes his property by force?

11False witnesses rose up; they charged me with things that I knew not.

12They rewarded me evil for good, and they destroyed my reputation among men.

13But as for me, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

14I behaved myself as though they had been my friends and brothers; I bowed down heavily, as one miserable in deep mourning.

15During my misery they gathered together and rejoiced; yea, they gathered together against me for a long time, and I knew it not;

16With their boasting and mocking, they gnashed at me with their teeth.

17My LORD, I have suffered enough; rescue my soul from their riot, my only one from the lions.

18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among many people.

19Let mine enemies not rejoice over me, nor the mockers who hate me for no reason; they wink with their eyes but they do not salute.

20Against the meek of the earth, they devise mischievous things.

21Yea, they opened their mouths wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye has seen it.

22This thou hast seen, O God; keep not silence; O my LORD, be not far from the.

23stir up thyself and awake to my judgment, see my suffering, 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, We have rid ourselves of him and we have buried him.

26Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion who wish me evil; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27Let them who are pleased with my victory shout for joy and be glad; yea, let them say continually, The LORD be magnified who has pleasure in the peace of his servant,

28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.