e_.

Plead thou my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: and
fight thou against them that fight against me.

2 Lay hand upon the shield and buckler: and stand up to help me.

3 Bring forth the spear, and stop the way against them that
persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul:
let them be turned back and brought to confusion, that imagine
mischief for me.

5 Let them be as the dust before the wind: and the angel of the
Lord scattering them.

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

7 For they have privily laid their net to destroy me without a
cause: yea, even without a cause have they made a pit for my soul.

8 Let a sudden destruction come upon him unawares, and his net,
that he hath laid privily, catch himself: that he may fall into
his own mischief.

9 And, my soul, be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his
salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, who
deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him: yea, the
poor, and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him?

11 False witnesses did rise up: they laid to my charge things that
I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good: to the great discomfort of my
soul.

13 Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and
humbled my soul with fasting: and my prayer shall turn into mine
own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother:
I went heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves
together: yea, the very abjects came together against me unawares,
making mouths at me, and ceased not.

16 With the flatterers were busy mockers: who gnashed upon me
with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look upon this: O deliver my soul
from the calamities which they bring on me, and my darling from
the lions.

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

19 O let not them that are mine enemies triumph over me ungodly:
neither let them wink with their eyes that hate me without a cause.

20 And why? their communing is not for peace: but they imagine
deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.

21 They gaped upon me with their mouths, and said: Fie on thee,
fie on thee, we saw it with our eyes.

22 This thou hast