Study Desk

Davidic.

Oppose my opponents, Lord ; fight those who fight me.^(a)

Take Your shields—large and small— and come to my aid.^(b)

Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers, and assure me: "I am your deliverance."^(c)

Let those who seek to kill me be disgraced and humiliated; let those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.^(d)

Let them be like chaff in the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away.^(e)

Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.^(f)

They hid their net for me without cause; they dug a pit for me without cause.^(g)

Let ruin come on him unexpectedly, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his ruin.^(h)

Then I will rejoice in the Lord ; I will delight in His deliverance.⁽ⁱ⁾

My very bones will say, " Lord , who is like You,^(j) rescuing the poor from one too strong for him, the poor or the needy from one who robs him?"^(k)

Malicious witnesses come forward; they question me about things I do not know.^(l)

They repay me evil for good, making me desolate.^(m)

Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.^[a](n)

I went about grieving as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning a mother.^(o)

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.^(p)

With godless mockery^[b] they gnashed their teeth at me.^(q)

Lord, how long will You look on?^(r) Rescue my life from their ravages, my only one from the young lions.^(s)

I will praise You in the great congregation; I will exalt You among many people.^(t)

Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let those who hate me without cause^(u) look at me maliciously.^(v)

For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive deceitful schemes^[c] against those who live peacefully in the land.^(w)

They open their mouths wide against me and say, "Aha, aha! We saw it!"^[d](x)

You saw it, Lord ; do not be silent. Lord, do not be far from me.^(y)

Wake up and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord !^(z)

Vindicate me, Lord my God, in keeping with Your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me.^(aa)

Do not let them say in their hearts, "Aha! Just what we wanted." Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"^(ab)

Let those who rejoice at my misfortune be disgraced and humiliated; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and reproach.^(ac)

Let those who want my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them continually say, "The Lord be exalted. He takes pleasure in His servant's well-being."^(ad)

And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness, Your praise all day long.^(ae)