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¹ A Psalm of David. Strive, O LORD, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me.² Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to my help.³ Draw out also the spear, and the battle-axe, against them that pursue me; say unto my soul: 'I am Thy salvation.'⁴ Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be abashed that devise my hurt.⁵ Let them be as chaff before the wind, the angel of the LORD thrusting them.⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery, the angel of the LORD pursuing them.⁷ For without cause have they hid for me the pit, even their net, without cause have they digged for my soul.⁸ Let destruction come upon him unawares; ⁹ And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation.¹⁰ All my bones shall say: 'LORD, who is like unto Thee,

¹¹ Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.¹² They repay me evil for good; bereavement is come to my soul.¹³ But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I afflicted my soul with fasting; ¹⁴ I went about as though it had been my friend or my brother; I bowed down mournful, as one that mourneth for his mother.¹⁵ But when I halt they rejoice, and gather themselves together; {N}they tear me, and cease not;¹⁶ With the profanest mockeries of backbiting they gnash at me with their teeth.

¹⁷ Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? ¹⁸ I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a numerous people.¹⁹ Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.²⁰ For they speak not peace; but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.²¹ Yea, they open their mouth wide against me; they say: 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.'²² Thou hast seen, O LORD; keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.²³ Rouse Thee, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.²⁴ Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.²⁵ Let them not say in their heart: 'Aha, we have our desire'; let them not say: 'We have swallowed him up.'²⁶ Let them be ashamed and abashed together that rejoice at my hurt; ²⁷ Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that delight in my righteousness; ²⁸ And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day.