Contend with Those who Contend with Me

1A Psalm of David. Strive thou, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that pursue me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4Let them be ashamed and brought to dishonour that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and confounded that devise my hurt.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind, and the angel of the LORD driving them on.

6Let their way be dark and slippery, and the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

7For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, without cause have they digged a pit for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: with destruction let him fall therein.

9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.

12They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.

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

14I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother.

15But when I halted they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

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

19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.

21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

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

23Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O LORD 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 confounded together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, The LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

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