Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.
A Psalm
of David.
1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler (small shield),
And stand up for my help.
3 Draw also the spear and javelin to meet those who pursue me.
Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;
Let those be turned back [in defeat] and humiliated who plot evil against me.
5 Let them be [blown away] like chaff before the wind [worthless, without substance],
With the angel of the Lorddriving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
With the angel of the Lordpursuingandharassing them.
7 For without cause they hid their net for me;
Without cause they dug a pit [of destruction] for my life.
8 Let destruction come upon my enemy by surprise;
Let the net he hid for me catch him;
Into that very destruction let him fall.
9 Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You,
Who rescues the afflicted from him who is too strong for him [to resist alone],
And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”
11 Malicious witnesses rise up;
They ask me of things that I do not know.
12 They repay me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth (mourning garment);
I humbled my soul with fasting,
And I prayed with my head bowed on my chest.
14 I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother;
I bowed down in mourning, as one who sorrows for his mother.
15 But in my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together [against me];
The slanderers whom I did not know gathered against me;
They slanderedandreviled me without ceasing.
16 Like godless jesters at a feast,
They gnashed at me with their teeth [in malice].
17 Lord, how long will You look on [without action]?
Rescue my life from their destructions,
My onlylifefrom the young lions.
18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation;
I will praise You among a mighty people.
19 Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me;
Nor let those who hate me without cause wink their eye [maliciously].
20 For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful words [half-truths and lies] against those who are quiet in the land.
21 They open their mouths wide against me;
They say, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!”
22 You have seen this, O Lord; do not keep silent.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
23 Wake Yourself up, and arise to my right
And to my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lordmy God, according to Your righteousnessandjustice;
And do not let them rejoice over me.
25 Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, that is what we wanted!”
Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him upanddestroyed him.”
26 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who rejoice at my distress;
Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.
27 Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindicationandwant what is right for me;
Let them say continually, “Let the Lordbe magnified, who delightsandtakes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
28 And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness (justice),
And Your praise all the day long.