1

Plead, Lord, with those that plead; and fight

with those that fight with me.

2

Of shield and buckler take thou hold,

stand up mine help to be.

3

Draw also out the spear, and do

against them stop the way

That me pursue: unto my soul,

I’m thy salvation, say.

4

Let them confounded be and sham’d

that for my soul have sought:

Who plot my hurt turn’d back be they,

and to confusion brought.

5

Let them be like unto the chaff

that flies before the wind;

And let the angel of the Lord

pursue them hard behind.

6

With darkness cover thou their way,

and let it slipp’ry prove;

And let the angel of the Lord

pursue them from above.

7

For without cause have they for me

their net hid in a pit,

They also have without a cause

for my soul digged it.

8

Let ruin seize him unawares;

his net he hid withal

Himself let catch; and in the same

destruction let him fall.

9

My soul in God shall joy; and glad

in his salvation be:

10

And all my bones shall say, O Lord,

who is like unto thee,

Which dost the poor set free from him

that is for him too strong;

The poor and needy from the man

that spoils and does him wrong?

11

False witnesses rose; to my charge

things I not knew they laid.

12

They, to the spoiling of my soul,

me ill for good repaid.

13

But as for me, when they were sick,

in sackcloth sad I mourn’d:

My humbled soul did fast, my pray’r

into my bosom turn’d.

14

Myself I did behave as he

had been my friend or brother;

I heavily bow’d down, as one

that mourneth for his mother.

15

But in my trouble they rejoic’d,

gath’ring themselves together;

Yea, abjects vile together did

themselves against me gather:

I knew it not; they did me tear,

and quiet would not be.

16

With mocking hypocrites, at feasts

they gnash’d their teeth at me.

17

How long, Lord, look’st thou on? from those

destructions they intend

Rescue my soul, from lions young

my darling do defend.

18

I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,

within th’ assembly great;

And where much people gather’d are

thy praises forth will set.

19

Let not my wrongful enemies

proudly rejoice o’er me;

Nor who me hate without a cause,

let them wink with the eye.

20

For peace they do not speak at all;

but crafty plots prepare

Against all those within the land

that meek and quiet are.

21

With mouths set wide, they ’gainst me said,

Ha, ha! our eye doth see.

22

Lord, thou hast seen, hold not thy peace;

Lord, be not far from me.

23

Stir up thyself; wake, that thou may’st

judgment to me afford,

Ev’n to my cause, O thou that art

my only God and Lord.

24

O Lord my God, do thou me judge

after thy righteousness;

And let them not their joy ’gainst me

triumphantly express:

25

Nor let them say within their hearts,

Ah, we would have it thus;

Nor suffer them to say, that he

is swallow’d up by us.

26

Sham’d and confounded be they all

that at my hurt are glad;

Let those against me that do boast

with shame and scorn be clad.

27

Let them that love my righteous cause

be glad, shout, and not cease

To say, The Lord be magnify’d,

who loves his servant’s peace.

28

Thy righteousness shall also be

declared by my tongue;

The praises that belong to thee

speak shall it all day long.