Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

A Psalm of David.

1Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;

Fight against those who fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler ([a]small shield),

And stand up for my help.

3Draw also the spear and javelin to meet those who pursue me.

Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;

Let those be turned back [in defeat] and humiliated who plot evil against me.

5Let them be [blown away] like chaff before the wind [worthless, without substance],

With the angel of the LORD driving them on.

6Let their way be dark and slippery,

With the angel of the LORD pursuing and harassing them.

7For without cause they hid their net for me;

Without cause they dug a pit [of destruction] for my life.

8Let destruction come upon my enemy by surprise;

Let the net he hid for me catch him;

Into that very destruction let him fall.

9Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD;

It shall rejoice in His salvation.

10All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like You,

Who rescues the afflicted from him who is too strong for him [to resist alone],

And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”

11Malicious witnesses rise up;

They ask me of things that I do not know.

12They repay me evil for good,

To the sorrow of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth (mourning garment);

I humbled my soul with fasting,

And I prayed with my head bowed on my chest.

14I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother;

I bowed down in mourning, as one who sorrows for his mother.

15But in my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together [against me];

The slanderers whom I did not know gathered against me;

They slandered and reviled me without ceasing.

16Like godless jesters at a feast,

They gnashed at me with their teeth [in malice].

17LORD, how long will You look on [without action]?

Rescue my life from their destructions,

My only life from the young lions.

18I will give You thanks in the great congregation;

I will praise You among a mighty people.

19Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me;

Nor let those who hate me without cause wink their eye [maliciously].

20For they do not speak peace,

But they devise deceitful words [half-truths and lies] against those who are quiet in the land.

21They open their mouths wide against me;

They say, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!”

22You have seen this, O LORD; do not keep silent.

O Lord, do not be far from me.

23Wake Yourself up, and arise to my right

And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness and justice;

And do not let them rejoice over me.

25Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, that is what we wanted!”

Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up and destroyed him.”

26Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who rejoice at my distress;

Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.

27Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication and want what is right for me;

Let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, who delights and takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

28And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness (justice),

And Your praise all the day long.