King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
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A Psalm of David. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
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Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help!
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
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Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your deliverance!"
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
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Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
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Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
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Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
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For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
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Let ruin come upon them unawares! And let the net which they hid ensnare them; let them fall therein to ruin!
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
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Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his deliverance.
10 All 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?
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All my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like thee, thou who deliverest the weak from him who is too strong for him, the weak and needy from him who despoils him?"
11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
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Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
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They requite me evil for good; my soul is forlorn.
13 But 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.
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But I, when they were sick--I wore sackcloth, I afflicted myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed on my bosom,
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
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as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; I went about as one who laments his mother, bowed down and in mourning.
15 But 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:
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But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; cripples whom I knew not slandered me without ceasing;
16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
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they impiously mocked more and more, gnashing at me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
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How long, O LORD, wilt thou look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my life from the lions!
18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
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Then I will thank thee in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise thee.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
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Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.
20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
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For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they conceive words of deceit.
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
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They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha! our eyes have seen it!"
22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
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Thou hast seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!
23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
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Bestir thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
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Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
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Let them not say to themselves, "Aha, we have our heart's desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."
26 Let 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.
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Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!
27 Let 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.
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Let those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad, and say evermore, "Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!"
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
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Then my tongue shall tell of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.