Contend with Those who Contend with Me

1{[A Psalm] of David.} Strive, O Jehovah, 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;

3And draw out the spear, and stop [the way] against my pursuers: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4Let them be put to shame and confounded that seek after my life; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that devise my hurt:

5Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of Jehovah drive [them] away;

6Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of Jehovah pursue them.

7For without cause have they hidden for me their net [in] a pit; without cause they have digged [it] for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him unawares, and let his net which he hath hidden catch himself: for destruction let him fall therein.

9And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the afflicted from one stronger than he, yea, the afflicted and the needy from him that spoileth him!

11Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they lay to my charge things which I know not.

12They reward me evil for good, [to] the bereavement of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I chastened my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom:

14I behaved myself as though [he had been] a friend, a brother to me; I bowed down in sadness, as one that mourneth [for] a mother.

15But at my halting they rejoiced, and gathered together: the slanderers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:

16With profane jesters for bread, they have gnashed their teeth against me.

17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.

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

19Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; let them not wink with the eye that hate me without cause.

20For they speak not peace; and they devise deceitful words against the quiet in the land.

21And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, Aha! aha! our eye hath seen [it].

22Thou hast seen [it], Jehovah: keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

23Stir up thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and Lord!

24Judge me, Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.

25Let them not say in their heart, Aha! so would we have it. Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine adversity; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27Let them exult and rejoice that delight in my righteousness; and let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant.

28And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, [and] of thy praise, all the day.