New International Version NIV
New Living Translation NLT
1 Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
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O LORD, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.
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Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelinagainst those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.”
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Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say, “I will give you victory!”
4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
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Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
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Blow them away like chaff in the wind— a wind sent by the angel of the LORD .
6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
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Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,
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I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. I did them no wrong, but they dug a pit to catch me.
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
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So let sudden ruin come upon them! Let them be caught in the trap they set for me! Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORDand delight in his salvation.
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Then I will rejoice in the LORD . I will be glad because he rescues me.
10 My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
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With every bone in my body I will praise him: “ LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.
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Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved.
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They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
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Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.
14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
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I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing.
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But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;they gnashed their teeth at me.
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They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.
17 How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
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How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions!
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.
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Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.
19 Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
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Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.
20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
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They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.
21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it.”
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They shout, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!”
22 LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord.
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O LORD, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
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Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.
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Declare me not guilty, O LORD my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
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Don’t let them say, “Look, we got what we wanted! Now we will eat him alive!”
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.
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May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.
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.”
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But give great joy to those who came to my defense. Let them continually say, “Great is the LORD, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!”
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.
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Then I will proclaim your justice, and I will praise you all day long.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.