| Young's Literal Translation (YLT) | New International Version (NIV) |
| 1 By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters, | 1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. |
| 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help, | 2 Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. |
| 3 And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, `Thy salvation I [am].' | 3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." |
| 4 They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil. | 4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. |
| 5 They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away. | 5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; |
| 6 Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer. | 6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. |
| 7 For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul. | 7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, |
| 8 Meet him doth desolation -- he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it. | 8 may ruin overtake them by surprise-- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. |
| 9 And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation. | 9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. |
| 10 All my bones say, `Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.' | 10 My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them." |
| 11 Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me. | 11 Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. |
| 12 They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul, | 12 They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn. |
| 13 And I -- in their sickness my clothing [is] sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth. | 13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, |
| 14 As [if] a friend, as [if] my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down. | 14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. |
| 15 And -- in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased; | 15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing. |
| 16 With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth. | 16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. |
| 17 Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one. | 17 O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. |
| 18 I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee. | 18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you. |
| 19 Mine enemies rejoice not over me [with] falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye. | 19 Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. |
| 20 For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise, | 20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. |
| 21 And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, `Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.' | 21 They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it." |
| 22 Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord -- be not far from me, | 22 O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord. |
| 23 Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea. | 23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. |
| 24 Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me. | 24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me. |
| 25 They do not say in their heart, `Aha, our desire.' They do not say, `We swallowed him up.' | 25 Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up." |
| 26 They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me. | 26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. |
| 27 They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, `Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.' | 27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant." |
| 28 And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise! | 28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. |
| Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain. (Young's Literal Translation - The Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |