1Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me, do battle with those who do battle with me.
2Grasp shield and buckler, and rise up as my help. Draw spear and battle-axe, confront those who pursue me. Assure me that you will help me.
3Dishonour and shame be on those who are seeking my life! Defeat and confusion on those who are planning my hurt!
4As chaff before wind may they be, with the Lord’s angel pursuing them.
5Slippery and dark be their way, with his angel thrusting them on.
6For they wantonly hid their net for me, and dug a pit to destroy me.
7Upon them may ruin come unawares; may the net which they hid catch themselves, and into the pit may they fall.
8Then I will exult in the Lord, and be joyful because of his help;
9and all my being will say, “Who, O Lord, is like you, who save the helpless from those too strong for them, the poor and the helpless from those who despoil them?”
10Violent witnesses rise, and ask of me things that I know not.
11Evil for good they requite me, leaving me inwardly comfortless.
12But when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and chastened myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed low,
13as if for my friend or my brother. I went about bowed and in mourning, as one who laments his mother.
14When I stumbled, they gleefully gathered, strangers gathered around me, and tore at me without ceasing,
15impiously mocking and mocking, bearing their teeth at me.
16How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their roaring, my precious life from the lions.
17I will then give you thanks in the great congregation, and praise you before many people.
18Suffer not those to rejoice over me who are falsely my foes, suffer not those who without cause abhor me to wink with the eye.
19For it is not peace that they speak of those who are quiet in the land; but treacherous charges they plot.
20With wide open mouths they shout, “Hurrah! Hurrah! With our own eyes we saw it.”
21But you have seen, too, O Lord, keep not silence, O Lord, be not far from me.
22Bestir you, awake, for my right my God, my Lord, for my cause.
23You are just, Lord: win for me justice, let them not rejoice over me,
24inwardly saying, “Hurrah! The desire of our hearts at last! Now we have swallowed him up.”
25Shame and confusion together on those who rejoice at my hurt! Clothed with shame and dishonour be those who are haughty to me!
26Let such as delight in my cause ring out their gladness, and say evermore, “Great is the Lord whose delight is the well-being of his servant.”
27Then my tongue will tell of your justice, and all the day long of your praise.