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Contend, LORD, with those who ^(C1)contend with me; Fight against those who ^(C2)fight against me.

Take hold of ^(F1)(C1)buckler and shield And rise up as ^(C2)my help.

Draw also the spear and ^(F1)the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, "I am ^(C1)your salvation."

Let those be ^(C1)ashamed and dishonored who seek my ^(F1)life; Let those be ^(C2)turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.

Let them be ^(C1)like chaff before the wind, With the angel of the LORD driving them on.

Let their way be dark and ^(C1)slippery, With the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

For ^(C1)they ^(C2)hid their net for me without cause; Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.

Let ^(C1)destruction come upon him when he is unaware, And ^(C2)let the net which he hid catch him; Let him fall into that very ^(C3)destruction.

So my soul shall ^(C1)rejoice in the LORD; It shall ^(C2)rejoice in His salvation.

All my ^(C1)bones will say, "LORD, ^(C2)who is like You, Who rescues the afflicted from one ^(C3)who is too strong for him, And ^(C4)the afflicted and the poor from one who robs him?"

^(C1)Malicious witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know.

They ^(C1)repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my soul.

But as for me, ^(C1)when they were sick, my ^(C2)clothing was sackcloth; I ^(C3)humbled my soul with fasting, But my ^(C4)prayer kept returning to ^(F1)me.

I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I ^(C1)bowed down ^(F1)in mourning, like one who mourns for a mother.

But ^(C1)at my ^(F1)stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; The ^(F2)(C2)afflicted people whom I did not know gathered together against me, They ^(F3)(C3)slandered me without ceasing.

Like godless jesters at a feast, They ^(C1)gnashed at me with their teeth.

Lord, ^(C1)how long will You look on? Rescue my soul ^(C2)from their ravages, My ^(C3)only life from the lions.

I will ^(C1)give You thanks in the great congregation; I will ^(C2)praise You among a mighty people.

^(C1)Do not let those who are wrongfully ^(C2)my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those ^(C3)who hate me for no reason ^(F1)(C4)wink maliciously.

For they do not speak peace, But they devise ^(C1)deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

They ^(C1)opened their mouth wide against me; They said, "^(C2)Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it!"

^(C1)You have seen it, LORD, ^(C2)do not keep silent; Lord, ^(C3)do not be far from me.

^(C1)Stir Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

^(C1)Judge me, LORD my God, according to Your righteousness, And ^(C2)do not let them rejoice over me.

Do not let them say in their heart, "^(C1)Aha, our desire!" Do not let them say, "We have ^(C2)swallowed him up!"

May ^(C1)those be ashamed and altogether humiliated who rejoice at my distress; May those who ^(C2)exalt themselves over me be ^(C3)clothed with shame and dishonor.

May those ^(C1)shout for joy and rejoice, who take delight in ^(C2)my vindication; And ^(C3)may they say continually, "The LORD be exalted, Who ^(C4)delights in the prosperity of His servant."

And ^(C1)my tongue shall proclaim Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.