1 Oppose my opponents, Lord;

fight those who fight me.  *

2 Take your shields — large and small —

and come to my aid.  *

3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers,

and assure me, "I am your deliverance."  *

4 Let those who intend to take my life

be disgraced and humiliated;

let those who plan to harm me

be turned back and ashamed.  *

5 Let them be like chaff in the wind,

with the angel of the  Lord driving them away.  *

6 Let their way be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the  Lord pursuing them.  *

7 They hid their net for me without cause;

they dug a pit for me without cause.  *

8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly,

and let the net that he hid ensnare him;

let him fall into it — to his ruin.  *

9 Then I will rejoice in the  Lord;

I will delight in his deliverance.  *

10 All my bones will say,

"Lord, who is like you,  *

rescuing the poor from one too strong for him,

the poor or the needy from one who robs him? "  *

11 Malicious witnesses come forward;

they question me about things I do not know.  *

12 They repay me evil for good,

making me desolate.  *

13 Yet when they were sick,

my clothing was sackcloth;

I humbled myself with fasting,

and my prayer was genuine.  *,*

14 I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother;

I was bowed down with grief,

like one mourning for a mother.  *

15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;

they gathered against me.

Assailants I did not know

tore at me and did not stop.  *

16 With godless mockery  *

they gnashed their teeth at me.  *

17 Lord, how long will you look on?  *

Rescue me from their ravages;

rescue my precious life from the young lions.  *

18 I will praise you in the great assembly;

I will exalt you among many people.  *

19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me;

do not let those who hate me without cause  *

wink at me maliciously.  *

20 For they do not speak in friendly ways,

but contrive fraudulent schemes  *

against those who live peacefully in the land.  *

21 They open their mouths wide against me and say,

"Aha, aha! We saw it! "  *,*

22 You saw it, Lord; do not be silent.

Lord, do not be far from me.  *

23 Wake up and rise to my defense,

to my cause, my God and my Lord!  *

24 Vindicate me, Lord  my God,

in keeping with your righteousness,

and do not let them rejoice over me.  *

25 Do not let them say in their hearts,

"Aha! Just what we wanted."

Do not let them say,

"We have swallowed him up! "  *

26 Let those who rejoice at my misfortune

be disgraced and humiliated;

let those who exalt themselves over me

be clothed with shame and reproach.  *

27 Let those who want my vindication

shout for joy and be glad;

let them continually say,

"The Lord be exalted.

He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being."  *

28 And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness,

your praise all day long.  *