[1] Of David. O Lord, be on my side against those who are judging me; be at
war with those who make war against me. [2] Be a breastplate to me, and
give me your help. [3] Take up your spear and keep back my attackers; say
to my soul, I am your salvation. [4] Let them be overcome and put to shame
who make attempts to take my soul; let those who would do me damage be
turned back and made foolish. [5] Let them be like dust from the grain
before the wind; let the angel of the Lord send them in flight. [6] Let
their way be dark and full of danger; let them be troubled by the angel of
the Lord. [7] For without cause they have put a net ready for me secretly,
in which to take my soul. [8] Let destruction come on them without their
knowledge; let them be taken themselves in their secret nets, falling into
the same destruction. [9] And my soul will have joy in the Lord; it will be
glad in his salvation. [10] All my bones will say, Lord, who is like you?
The saviour of the poor man from the hands of the strong, of him who is
poor and in need from him who takes his goods. [11] False witnesses got up:
they put questions to me about crimes of which I had no knowledge. [12]
They gave me back evil for good, troubling my soul. [13] But as for me,
when they were ill I put on the clothing of sorrow: I went without food and
was sad, and my prayer came back again to my heart. [14] My behaviour was
as if it had been my friend or my brother: I was bent low in grief like one
whose mother is dead. [15] But they took pleasure in my trouble, and came
together, yes, low persons came together against me without my knowledge;
they never came to an end of wounding me. [16] Like men of deceit they put
me to shame; the voice of their wrath was loud against me. [17] Lord, how
long will you be looking on? take my soul from their destruction, my life
from the lions. [18] I will give you praise in the great meeting; I will
give you honour among a strong people. [19] Do not let my haters be glad
over me falsely; let not those who are against me without cause make sport
of me. [20] For they do not say words of peace; in their deceit they are
designing evil things against the quiet ones in the land. [21] Their mouths
were open wide against me, and they said, Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.
[22] You have seen this, O Lord; be not unmoved: O Lord, be not far from
me. [23] Be awake, O Lord, be moved to take up my cause, my God and my
Lord. [24] Be my judge, O Lord my God, in your righteousness; do not let
them be glad over me. [25] Let them not say in their hearts, So we will
have it: let them not say, We have put an end to him. [26] Let all those
who take pleasure in my troubles be shamed and come to nothing: let those
who are lifted up against me be covered with shame and have no honour. [27]
Let those who are on my side give cries of joy; let them ever say, The Lord
be praised, for he has pleasure in the peace of his servant. [28] And my
tongue will be talking of your righteousness and of your praise all the
day.
