me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand

up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way

against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back

and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and

let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let

the angel of the Lord persecute them. For without cause have they hid for me their

net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself:

into that very destruction let him fall. And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it

shall rejoice in his salvation. All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like

unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor

and the needy from him that spoileth him? False witnesses did rise up; they laid to

my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling

of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing

was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as

one that mourneth for his mother. But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered

themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew

it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they

gnashed upon me with their teeth. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my

soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with

the eye that hate me without a cause. For they speak not peace: but they devise

deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen

it. This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence:

O Lord, be not far from me. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment,

even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy

righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed

him up. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion

together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify

themselves against me. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that

favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which

hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness

and of thy praise all the day long.