1By David. Fight my antagonists, O Lord, battle those who battle against me.
2Take hold of shield and armor and arise to help me.
3Draw a spear, and bar the way before my pursuers; say to my soul, "I am your deliverance.”
4Let those who seek my life be shamed and disgraced; let those who devise my harm retreat and be humiliated.
5Let them be as chaff before the wind; let the angel of the Lord thrust them away.
6Let their path be dark and slippery; let them be chased by the angel of the Lord.
7For without cause have they laid their nets in the pit for me; without cause have they dug [pits] for my soul.
8Let darkness come upon him unawares; let the very snare that he hid trap him, in darkness he will fall in it.
9And my soul shall exult in the Lord, rejoice in His deliverance.
10My entire being shall declare: Lord, who is like You? Who saves the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and the destitute from one who would rob him.
11Corrupt witnesses rise up [against me], they demand of me things of which I do not know.
12They repay me evil for good, death for my soul.
13But I wore sackcloth when they were ill; I afflicted my soul with fasting. Let my prayer return upon my own bosom.
14As if it were my friend, my brother, I went about; like a mother in mourning, I was bent over in gloom.
15But when I limped, they rejoiced and gathered; the lowly gathered against me-even those whom I do not know; they laugh and cannot be quiet.
16With flattery and scorn, for the sake of a meal,1 they gnash their teeth at me.
17My Lord, how long will You look on? Restore my life from their darkness; from young lions, my soul.
18I will thank You in a great congregation, amidst a mighty nation I will praise You.
19Let not those who hate me without cause rejoice over me; [let not] those who despise me without reason wink their eye.
20For they speak not of peace, rather they scheme deceitful matters against the broken of the land.
21They opened their mouths wide against me, they said, "Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen [his misfortune].”
22You saw, Lord, be not silent; my Lord, be not distant from me.
23Rouse and awaken Yourself to my judgement, to my cause, my God and my Lord.
24Judge me according to Your righteousness, Lord my God; let them not rejoice over me.
25Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha! We have our desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him!”
26Let them be shamed and disgraced together, those who rejoice at my trouble; let them be clothed in shame and humiliation, those who raise themselves arrogantly over me.
27Let those who desire my vindication sing joyously and be glad; let them say always, "Let the Lord be exalted, Who desires the peace of His servant.”
28My tongue will speak of Your righteousness, Your praise, all day long.