A Psalm of David.
8,6,8,6
^1Plead, Lord, with those that plead; and fight
with those that fight with me.
^2Of shield and buckler take thou hold,
stand up mine help to be.
^3Draw also out the spear, and do
against them stop the way
That me pursue: unto my soul,
I'm thy salvation, say.
^4Let 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.
^5Let them be like unto the chaff
that flies before the wind;
And let the angel of the Lord
pursue them hard behind.
^6With darkness cover thou their way,
and let it slipp'ry prove;
And let the angel of the Lord
pursue them from above.
^7For without cause have they for me
their net hid in a pit,
They also have without a cause
for my soul digged it.
^8Let ruin seize him unawares;
his net he hid withal
Himself let catch; and in the same
destruction let him fall.
^9My soul in God shall joy; and glad
in his salvation be:
^10And 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?
^11False witnesses rose; to my charge
things I not knew they laid.
^12They, to the spoiling of my soul,
me ill for good repaid.
^13But 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.
^14Myself I did behave as he
had been my friend or brother;
I heavily bow'd down, as one
that mourneth for his mother.
^15But 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.
^16With mocking hypocrites, at feasts
they gnash'd their teeth at me.
^17How long, Lord, look'st thou on? from those
destructions they intend
Rescue my soul, from lions young
my darling do defend.
^18I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,
within th' assembly great;
And where much people gather'd are
thy praises forth will set.
^19Let not my wrongful enemies
proudly rejoice o'er me;
Nor who me hate without a cause,
let them wink with the eye.
^20For peace they do not speak at all;
but crafty plots prepare
Against all those within the land
that meek and quiet are.
^21With mouths set wide, they gainst me said,
Ha, ha! our eye doth see.
^22Lord, thou hast seen, hold not thy peace;
Lord, be not far from me.
^23Stir 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.
^24O Lord my God, do thou me judge
after thy righteousness;
And let them not their joy gainst me
triumphantly express:
^25Nor 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.
^26Sham'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.
^27Let 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.
^28Thy righteousness shall also be
declared by my tongue;
The praises that belong to thee
speak shall it all day long.