2. Take up shield and armour;arise and come to my aid.
3. Brandish spear and javelinagainst those who pursue me.Say to me,‘I am your salvation.’
4. May those who seek my lifebe disgraced and put to shame;may those who plot my ruinbe turned back in dismay.
5. May they be like chaff before the wind,with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
6. may their path be dark and slippery,with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7. Since they hid their net for me without causeand without cause dug a pit for me,
8. may ruin overtake them by surprise –may the net they hid entangle them,may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9. Then my soul will rejoice in the Lordand delight in his salvation.
10. My whole being will exclaim,‘Who is like you, Lord?You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,the poor and needy from those who rob them.’
11. Ruthless witnesses come forward;they question me on things I know nothing about.
12. They repay me evil for goodand leave me like one bereaved.
13. Yet when they were ill, I put on sackclothand humbled myself with fasting.When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14. I went about mourningas though for my friend or brother.I bowed my head in griefas though weeping for my mother.
15. But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.They slandered me without ceasing.
16. Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;they gnashed their teeth at me.
17. How long, Lord, will you look on?Rescue me from their ravages,my precious life from these lions.
18. I will give you thanks in the great assembly;among the throngs I will praise you.
19. Do not let those gloat over mewho are my enemies without cause;do not let those who hate me without reasonmaliciously wink the eye.
20. They do not speak peaceably,but devise false accusationsagainst those who live quietly in the land.