1. Plead, Lord, with those that plead; and fightwith those that fight with me.
2. Of shield and buckler take thou hold,stand up mine help to be.
3. Draw also out the spear, and doagainst them stop the wayThat me pursue: unto my soul,I'm thy salvation, say.
4. Let them confounded be and sham'dthat for my soul have sought:Who plot my hurt turn'd back be they,and to confusion brought.
5. Let them be like unto the chaffthat flies before the wind;And let the angel of the Lordpursue them hard behind.
6. With darkness cover thou their way,and let it slipp'ry prove;And let the angel of the Lordpursue them from above.
7. For without cause have they for metheir net hid in a pit,They also have without a causefor my soul digged it.
8. Let ruin seize him unawares;his net he hid withalHimself let catch; and in the samedestruction let him fall.
9. My soul in God shall joy; and gladin his salvation be:
10. And all my bones shall say, O Lord,who is like unto thee,Which dost the poor set free from himthat is for him too strong;The poor and needy from the manthat spoils and does him wrong?
11. False witnesses rose; to my chargethings I not knew they laid.
12. They, to the spoiling of my soul,me ill for good repaid.
13. But as for me, when they were sick,in sackcloth sad I mourn'd:My humbled soul did fast, my pray'rinto my bosom turn'd.
14. Myself I did behave as hehad been my friend or brother;I heavily bow'd down, as onethat mourneth for his mother.
15. But in my trouble they rejoic'd,gath'ring themselves together;Yea, abjects vile together didthemselves against me gather:I knew it not; they did me tear,and quiet would not be.
16. With mocking hypocrites, at feaststhey gnash'd their teeth at me.
17. How long, Lord, look'st thou on? from thosedestructions they intendRescue my soul, from lions youngmy darling do defend.
18. I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,within th' assembly great;And where much people gather'd arethy praises forth will set.
19. Let not my wrongful enemiesproudly rejoice o'er me;Nor who me hate without a cause,let them wink with the eye.
20. For peace they do not speak at all;but crafty plots prepareAgainst all those within the landthat meek and quiet are.
21. With mouths set wide, they 'gainst me said,Ha, ha! our eye doth see.
22. Lord, thou hast seen, hold not thy peace;Lord, be not far from me.
23. Stir up thyself; wake, that thou may'stjudgment to me afford,Ev'n to my cause, O thou that artmy only God and Lord.
24. O Lord my God, do thou me judgeafter thy righteousness;And let them not their joy 'gainst metriumphantly express:
25. Nor let them say within their hearts,Ah, we would have it thus;Nor suffer them to say, that heis swallow'd up by us.
26. Sham'd and confounded be they allthat at my hurt are glad;Let those against me that do boastwith shame and scorn be clad.
27. Let them that love my righteous causebe glad, shout, and not ceaseTo say, The Lord be magnify'd,who loves his servant's peace.
28. Thy righteousness shall also bedeclared by my tongue;The praises that belong to theespeak shall it all day long.