1. Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me.Fight against those who fight against me.
2. Take hold of shield and buckler,and stand up for my help.
3. Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me.Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4. Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonour.Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
5. Let them be as chaff before the wind,The Lord’s angel driving them on.
6. Let their way be dark and slippery,The Lord’s angel pursuing them.
7. For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me.Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
8. Let destruction come on him unawares.Let his net that he has hidden catch himself.Let him fall into that destruction.
9. My soul shall be joyful in the Lord.It shall rejoice in his salvation.
10. All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like you,who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him;yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”
11. Unrighteous witnesses rise up.They ask me about things that I don’t know about.
12. They reward me evil for good,to the bereaving of my soul.
13. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth.I afflicted my soul with fasting.My prayer returned into my own bosom.
14. I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother.I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.