¹ By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,

² Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,

³ And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, `Thy salvation I am .'

⁴ They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.

⁵ They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.

⁶ Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.

⁷ For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.

⁸ Meet him doth desolation--he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

⁹ And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.

¹⁰ All my bones say, `Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.'

¹¹ Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.

¹² They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,

¹³ And I--in their sickness my clothing is sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.

¹⁴ As if a friend, as if my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.

¹⁵ And--in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;

¹⁶ With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.

¹⁷ Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.

¹⁸ I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.

¹⁹ Mine enemies rejoice not over me with falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.

²⁰ For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,

²¹ And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, `Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'

²² Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord--be not far from me,

²³ Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.

²⁴ Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.

²⁵ They do not say in their heart, `Aha, our desire.' They do not say, `We swallowed him up.'

²⁶ They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me.

²⁷ They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, `Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.'

²⁸ And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!