*By David. O Lord, fight those who fight with me! Attack those who attack me!*Grab your small shield and large shield, and rise up to help me!*Use your spear and lance against those who chase me! Assure me with these words: “I am your deliverer!”*May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated! May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed! *May they be like wind-driven chaff, as the Lord’s angel attacks them! *May their path be dark and slippery, as the Lord’s angel chases them!*I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me and dug a pit to trap me. *Let destruction take them by surprise! Let the net they hid catch them! Let them fall into destruction! *Then I will rejoice in the Lord and be happy because of his deliverance. *With all my strength I will say, “O Lord, who can compare to you? You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.” *Violent men perjure themselves, and falsely accuse me. *They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow. *When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!) *I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother. *But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest. *When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me. *O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions!*Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you before a large crowd of people! *Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me! Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes! *For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting. *They are ready to devour me; they say, “Aha! Aha! We’ve got you!” *But you take notice, Lord! O Lord, do not remain far away from me!*Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me! My God and Lord, defend my just cause! *Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God! Do not let them gloat over me!*Do not let them say to themselves, “Aha! We have what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!”*May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation! *May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice! May they continually say, “May the Lord be praised, for he wants his servant to be secure.” *Then I will tell others about your justice, and praise you all day long.
