Yahweh Be Magnified

Of David.

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

Fight against those who fight against me.

2Take hold of [†]shield and large shield

And rise up for my help.

3Draw also the spear and [†]the battle-axe 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 who devise evil against me be turned back and humiliated.

5Let them be like chaff before the wind,

With the angel of Yahweh driving them on.

6Let their way be dark and slippery,

With the angel of Yahweh pursuing them.

7For without cause they hid their net for me;

Without cause they dug a [†]pit for my soul.

8Let destruction, which he does not know, come upon him,

And let the net, which he hid, catch him;

Let him fall into it in destruction.

9And my soul shall rejoice in Yahweh;

It shall be joyful in His salvation.

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

Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him,

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

11Malicious witnesses rise up,

Who ask me of things that I do not know.

12They repay me evil for good,

It is bereavement to my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;

I humbled my soul with fasting,

And my prayer kept returning to my bosom.

14I walked about as though it were my friend or brother;

I bowed down [†]mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

15But at my [†]stumbling they were glad and gathered themselves together;

The [†]smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me,

They tore at me and never were silent.

16Amongst the godless jesters at a feast,

They gnashed at me with their teeth.

17Lord, how long will You look on?

Bring back my soul from their ravages,

My only life from the lions.

18I will give You thanks in the great assembly;

I will praise You among a mighty people.

19Let those who are wrongfully my enemies not be glad over me;

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

20For they do not speak peace,

But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21They opened their mouth wide against me;

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

22You have seen it, O Yahweh, do not keep silent;

O Lord, do not be far from me.

23Stir up Yourself, and awake to my justice

And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O Yahweh my God, according to Your righteousness,

And do not let them be glad over me.

25Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, our desire!”

Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

26Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who are glad at the evil done to me;

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

27Let them shout for joy and be glad, who delight in my righteousness;

And let them say continually, “Yahweh be magnified,

Who delights in the peace of His slave.”

28And my tongue shall utter Your righteousness

And Your praise all day long.