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[A Psalm of David.]
[1] Judge thou, O Lord, them that injure me, fight against them that fight against me.
[2] Take hold of shield and buckler, and arise for my help.
[3] Bring forth a sword, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I am thy salvation.
[4] Let them that seek my soul be ashamed and confounded: let them that devise evils against me be turned back and put to shame.
[5] Let them be as dust before the wind, and an angel of the Lord afflicting them.
[6] Let their way be dark and slippery, and an angel of the Lord persecuting them.
[7] For without cause they have hid for me their destructive snare: without a cause they have reproached my soul.
[8] Let a snare which they know not come upon them; and the gin which they hid take them; and let them fall into the very same snare.
[9] But my soul shall exult in the Lord: it shall delight in his salvation.
[10] All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like to thee? delivering the poor out of the hand of them that are stronger than he, yea, the poor and needy one from them that spoil him.
[11] Unjust witnesses arose, and asked me of things I new not.
[12] They rewarded me evil for good, and bereavement to my soul.
[13] But I, when they troubled me, put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting: and my prayer shall return to my own bosom.
[14] I behaved agreeably towards them as if it had been our neighbour or brother: I humbled myself as one mourning and sad of countenance.
[15] Yet they rejoiced against me, and plagues were plentifully brought against me, and I knew it not: they were scattered, but repented not.
[16] They tempted me, they sneered at me most contemptuously, they gnashed their teeth upon me.
[17] O Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? Deliver my soul from their mischief, mine only-begotten one from the lions.
[18] I will give thanks to thee even in a great congregation: in an abundant people I will praise thee.
[19] Let not them that are mine enemies without a cause rejoice against me; who hate me for nothing, and wink with their eyes.
[20] For to me they spoke peaceably, but imagined deceits in their anger.
[21] And they opened wide their mouth upon me; they said Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.
[22] Thou hast seen it, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, withdraw not thyself from me.
[23] Awake, O Lord, and attend to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.
[24] Judge me, O Lord, according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice against me.
[25] Let them not say in their hearts, Aha, aha, it is pleasing to our soul: neither let them say, We have devoured him.
[26] Let them be confounded and ashamed together that rejoice at my afflictions: let them be clothed with shame and confusion that speak great swelling words against me.
[27] Let them that rejoice in my righteousness exult and be glad: and let them say continually, The Lord be magnified, who desire the peace of his servant.
[28] And my tongue shall meditate on thy righteousness, and on thy praise all the day.
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