1[By David.] O LORD, attack those who attack me. Fight against those who fight against me.

2Use your shields, [both] small and large. Arise to help me.

3Hold your spear to block the way of those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your savior."

4Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgraced. Let those who plan my downfall be turned back in confusion.

5Let them be like husks blown by the wind as the Messenger of the LORD chases them.

6Let their path be dark and slippery as the Messenger of the LORD pursues them.

7For no reason they hid their net in a pit. For no reason they dug the pit [to trap me].

8Let destruction surprise them. Let the net that they hid catch them. Let them fall into their own pit and be destroyed.

9My soul will find joy in the LORD and be joyful about his salvation.

10All my bones will say, "O LORD, who can compare with you? You rescue the weak person from the one who is too strong for him and weak and needy people from the one who robs them."

11Malicious people bring charges against me. They ask me things I know nothing about.

12I am devastated because they pay me back with evil instead of good.

13But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. I humbled myself with fasting. When my prayer returned unanswered,

14I walked around as if I were mourning for my friend or my brother. I was bent over as if I were mourning for my mother.

15Yet, when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together. They gathered together against me. Unknown attackers tore me apart without stopping.

16With crude and abusive mockers, they grit their teeth at me.

17O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their attacks. Rescue my precious life from the lions.

18I will give you thanks in a large gathering. I will praise you in a crowd [of worshipers].

19Do not let my treacherous enemies gloat over me. Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink [at me].

20They do not talk about peace. Instead, they scheme against the peaceful people in the land.

21They open their big mouths and say about me, "Aha! Aha! Our own eyes have seen it."

22You have seen it, O LORD. Do not remain silent. O Lord, do not be so far away from me.

23Wake up, and rise to my defense. Plead my case, O my God and my Lord.

24Judge me by your righteousness, O LORD my God. Do not let them gloat over me

25or think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up."

26Let those who gloat over my downfall be thoroughly put to shame and confused. Let those who promote themselves at my expense be clothed with shame and disgrace.

27Let those who are happy when I am declared innocent joyfully sing and rejoice. Let them continually say, "The LORD is great. He is happy when his servant has peace."

28Then my tongue will tell about your righteousness, about your praise all day long.