Contend with Those who Contend with Me

1A Psalm of David. Judge thou, O Lord, them that injure me, fight against them that fight against me.

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

3Bring forth a sword, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I am thy salvation.

4Let them that seek my soul be ashamed and confounded: let them that devise evils against me be turned back and put to shame.

5Let them be as dust before the wind, and an angel of the Lord afflicting them.

6Let their way be dark and slippery, and an angel of the Lord persecuting them.

7For without cause they have hid for me their destructive snare: without a cause they have reproached my soul.

8Let a snare which they know not come upon them; and the gin which they hid take them; and let them fall into the very same snare.

9But my soul shall exult in the Lord: it shall delight in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like to thee? delivering the poor out of the hand of them that are stronger than he, yea, the poor and needy one from them that spoil him.

11Unjust witnesses arose, and asked me of things I new not.

12They rewarded me evil for good, and bereavement to my soul.

13But I, when they troubled me, put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting: and my prayer shall return to my own bosom.

14I behaved agreeably towards them as if it had been our neighbour or brother: I humbled myself as one mourning and sad of countenance.

15Yet they rejoiced against me, and plagues were plentifully brought against me, and I knew it not: they were scattered, but repented not.

16They tempted me, they sneered at me most contemptuously, they gnashed their teeth upon me.

17O Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? Deliver my soul from their mischief, mine only-begotten one from the lions.

18I will give thanks to thee even in a great congregation: in an abundant people I will praise thee.

19Let not them that are mine enemies without a cause rejoice against me; who hate me for nothing, and wink with their eyes.

20For to me they spoke peaceably, but imagined deceits in their anger.

21And they opened wide their mouth upon me; they said Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.

22Thou hast seen it, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, withdraw not thyself from me.

23Awake, O Lord, and attend to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O Lord, according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice against me.

25Let them not say in their hearts, Aha, aha, it is pleasing to our soul: neither let them say, We have devoured him.

26Let them be confounded and ashamed together that rejoice at my afflictions: let them be clothed with shame and confusion that speak great swelling words against me.

27Let them that rejoice in my righteousness exult and be glad: and let them say continually, The Lord be magnified, who desire the peace of his servant.

28And my tongue shall meditate on thy righteousness, and on thy praise all the day.