Plead thou my cause, O LORD, with them that | strive with me,

* and fight thou against them that | fight against me.

2 Lay hand upon the | shield and buckler,

* and | stand up to help me.

3 Bring forth the spear, and stop the way against them | that pursue me:

* say unto my soul, | I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded, and put to shame, that seek | after• my soul;

* let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that im- | -agine mischief for me.

5 Let them be as the dust be- | -fore the wind,

* and the angel of the |LORD •scatter•ing them.

6 Let their way be | dark and slippery,

* and let the angel | of the LORD pursue them.

7 For they have privily laid their net to destroy me with- | -out a cause;

* yea, even without a cause have they made a | pit for my soul.

8 Let a sudden destruction come upon him unawares, and his net that he hath laid privily | catch himself;

* that he may fall | into• his own mischief.

9 And my soul shall be joyful | in the LORD;

* it shall re- | -joice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too | strong for him;

* yea, the poor, and him that is in misery, from | him that spoileth him?

11 False witnesses did | rise up:

* they laid to my charge |things that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me | evil• for good,

* to the great dis- | -comfort of my soul.

13 Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sack-cloth, and humbled my | soul with fasting;

* and my prayer shall turn | into• mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend | or my brother;

* I went heavily, as one that | mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered them- | -selves together;

* yea, the very abjects came together against me unawares, making mouths at | me, and ceased not.

16 With the flatterers were | busy mockers,

* who gnashed up- | -on me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou | look upon this?

* O deliver my soul from the calamities which they bring on me, and my | darling from the lions.

18 So will I give thee thanks in the great | congregation;

* I will praise | thee among much people.

19 O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over | me ungodly;

* neither let them wink with their eyes, that | hate •me with•out a cause.

20 And why? their communing is | not for peace;

* but they imagine deceitful words against them that are | quiet in the land.

21 They gaped upon me with their | mouths, and said,

* Fie on thee! fie on thee! we | saw it with our eyes.

22 This thou hast | seen, O LORD;

* hold not thy tongue then; go not | far from me, O Lord.

23 Awake, and stand up to | judge my quarrel;

* avenge thou my cause, my | God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according | to thy righteousness;

* and let them not | triumph over me.

25 Let them not say in their hearts, There! there! | so would• we have it;

* neither let them say, | We •have de•voured him.

26 Let them be put to confusion and shame together, that rejoice | at my trouble;

* let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour, that | boast themselves against me.

27 Let them be glad and rejoice, that favour my | righteous dealing;

* yea, let them say alway, Blessed be the LORD, who hath pleasure in the pros- | -peri•ty of his servant.

28 And as for my tongue, it shall be talking | of thy righteousness,

* and of thy praise, | all the day long.

Glory be to the Father, and | to the Son,

* and | to the Holy Ghost,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and | ever shall be,

* world without | end.  Amen.