English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!

1Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!

2Take up Your shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.

3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!”

3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”

4Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!

4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

5Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away!

5May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away.

6Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!

6May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues.

7For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.

7For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction!

8May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.

9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation.

9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.

10All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

10All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”

11Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.

11Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

12They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.

12They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.

13But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

14I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.

14I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.

15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;

15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.

16like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.

16Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.

17How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!

17How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.

18I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.

18Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.

19Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.

19Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.

20For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.

20For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.

21They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”

21They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”

22You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!

22O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.

23Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!

23Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!

24Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!

24Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.

25Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

25Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”

26Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!

26May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.

27Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”

27May those who favor my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in His servant’s well-being.”

28Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

28Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness and Your praises all day long.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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