¹ A Psalm of David. Strive, O HaShem, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me.

² Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to my help.

³ Draw out also the spear, and the battle-axe, against them that pursue me; say unto my soul: 'I am Thy salvation.'

⁴ Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be abashed that devise my hurt.

⁵ Let them be as chaff before the wind, the angel of HaShem thrusting them.

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

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

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

⁹ And my soul shall be joyful in HaShem; it shall rejoice in His salvation.

¹⁰ All my bones shall say: 'HaShem, who is like unto Thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?'

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

¹² They repay me evil for good; bereavement is come to my soul.

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

¹⁴ I went about as though it had been my friend or my brother; I bowed down mournful, as one that mourneth for his mother.

¹⁵ But when I halt they rejoice, and gather themselves together; the abjects gather themselves together against me, and those whom I know not; they tear me, and cease not;

¹⁶ With the profanest mockeries of backbiting they gnash at me with their teeth.

¹⁷ L-rd, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, mine only one from the lions.

¹⁸ I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a numerous people.

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

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

²¹ Yea, they open their mouth wide against me; they say: 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.'

²² Thou hast seen, O HaShem; keep not silence; O L-rd, be not far from me.

²³ Rouse Thee, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my G-d and my L-rd.

²⁴ Judge me, O HaShem my G-d, according to Thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

²⁵ Let them not say in their heart: 'Aha, we have our desire'; let them not say: 'We have swallowed him up.'

²⁶ Let them be ashamed and abashed together that rejoice at my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify themselves against me.

²⁷ Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that delight in my righteousness; yea, let them say continually: 'Magnified be HaShem, who delighteth in the peace of His servant.'

²⁸ And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day.