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 shamed that for my soul have sought: Who plot my hurt turned 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 diggèd 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 mourned: My humbled soul did fast, my prayer into my bosom turned. 14 Myself I did behave as he had been my friend or brother; I heavily bowed down, as one that mourneth for his mother. 15 But in my trouble they rejoiced, 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 gnashed 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 gathered 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 swallowed up by us. 26 Shamed 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 magnified, who loves his servant's peace. 28 Thy righteousness shall also be declarèd by my tongue; The praises that belong to thee speak shall it all day long.