1Of David. Contend, O Yahweh, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
2Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to my help.
3Draw out the spear, and close in against my pursuers; say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’
4Let them be shamed and disgraced, those who seek my life; let them be turned back and confounded, those who plot evil against me.
5Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of Yahweh driving them away.
6Let their way be darkness and slippery places, with the angel of Yahweh pursuing them.
7For without cause they hid their net for me—a pit; without cause they dug it for my life.
8Let ruin come upon him unawares; let his net that he hid catch him; into ruin let him fall in it.
9Then my soul will rejoice in Yahweh, exulting in his salvation.
10All my bones will say, ‘Yahweh, who is like you—rescuing the poor from one too strong for him, the poor and needy from the one who robs him?’
11Violent witnesses rise up; they question me about things I do not know.
12They repay me evil for good—bereavement to my soul.
13But I, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I afflicted my soul with fasting, and my prayer returns upon my own bosom.
14As for a friend, as for a brother of mine, I went about; as one mourning a mother, I bowed down in gloom.
15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered against me—smiters I did not know; they tore at me and did not cease.
16Like the profane mockers at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.
17Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my only one from the young lions.
18I will thank you in the great assembly; among a mighty people I will praise you.
19Let not my enemies, liars, rejoice over me; let not those who hate me without cause wink the eye.
20For they do not speak peace, but against the quiet ones of the land they devise words of deceit.
21They open their mouths wide against me; they say, ‘Aha, aha! Our eye has seen it.’
22You have seen, O Yahweh—do not be silent; Lord, do not be far from me.
23Rouse yourself and awake for my justice, my God and my Lord, for my cause.
24Judge me according to your righteousness, O Yahweh my God, and do not let them rejoice over me.
25Let them not say in their heart, ‘Aha, our desire!’; let them not say, ‘We have swallowed him up.’
26Let them be shamed and confounded altogether, those who rejoice at my trouble; let them be clothed in shame and disgrace, those who magnify themselves over me.
27Let those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them say continually, ‘Great is Yahweh, who delights in the well-being of his servant.’
28And my tongue will murmur of your righteousness, all day long of your praise.
Open in the interactive reader →Where this passage connects across Scripture — each link typed and reasoned, part of the AIT Bible Nexus Chart.