1«[A Psalm] of David.» Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation. 4Let them be confounded & put to shame, that seeke after my soule: let them be turned backe, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt. 5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them]. 6Let their way be darke and slipperie: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them. 7For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul. 8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. 9Then my soule shalbe ioyfull in the Lord: it shall reioyce in his saluation. 10All 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? 11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not. 12They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul. 13But 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. 14I behaued my selfe as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled my selfe, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother. 15But 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: 16With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17Lord, how long wilt thou beholde this? deliuer my soule from their tumult, euen my desolate soule from the lions. 18So will I giue thee thankes in a great Congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 20For they speake not as friendes: but they imagine deceitfull woordes against the quiet of the lande. 21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it]. 22Thou hast seene it, O Lorde: keepe not silence: be not farre from me, O Lord. 23Arise and wake to my iudgement, euen to my cause, my God, and my Lord. 24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26Let 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. 27Let 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. 28And my tongue shall vtter thy righteousnesse, and thy praise euery day.