Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 <<A Psalm of David.>> Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me.
1
O LORD, attack those who attack me. Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
2
Use your shields, [both] small and large. Arise to help me.
3 Draw out also the spear, and block the way against them that persecute me. Say unto my soul, "I am thy salvation."
3
Hold your spear to block the way of those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your savior."
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.
4
Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgraced. Let those who plan my downfall be turned back in confusion.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
5
Let them be like husks blown by the wind as the Messenger of the LORD chases them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
6
Let their path be dark and slippery as the Messenger of the LORD pursues them.
7 For without cause they have hid their net for me in a pit, which without cause they have dug for my soul.
7
For no reason they hid their net in a pit. For no reason they dug the pit [to trap me].
8 Let destruction come upon him unawares; and let the net which he hath hidden catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall.
8
Let destruction surprise them. Let the net that they hid catch them. Let them fall into their own pit and be destroyed.
9 Then my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation.
9
My soul will find joy in the LORD and be joyful about 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 needy from him that would plunder him?"
10
All my bones will say, "O LORD, who can compare with you? You rescue the weak person from the one who is too strong for him and weak and needy people from the one who robs them."
11 False witnesses rose up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
11
Malicious people bring charges against me. They ask me things I know nothing about.
12 They rewarded me evil for good, to the grieving of my soul.
12
I am devastated because they pay me back with evil instead of good.
13 But as for me, when they were sick my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned unto mine own bosom.
13
But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. I humbled myself with fasting. When my prayer returned unanswered,
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down in heaviness, as one that mourneth for his mother.
14
I walked around as if I were mourning for my friend or my brother. I was bent over as if I were mourning for my mother.
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 tore at me and ceased not.
15
Yet, when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together. They gathered together against me. Unknown attackers tore me apart without stopping.
16 With hypocritical mockers at feasts they gnashed their teeth against me.
16
With crude and abusive mockers, they grit their teeth at me.
17 Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my precious soul from the lions.
17
O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their attacks. Rescue my precious life from the lions.
18 I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among many people.
18
I will give you thanks in a large gathering. I will praise you in a crowd [of worshipers].
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.
19
Do not let my treacherous enemies gloat over me. Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink [at me].
20 For they speak not peace, but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
20
They do not talk about peace. Instead, they scheme against the peaceful people in the land.
21 Yea, they opened their mouths wide against me and said, "Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it."
21
They open their big mouths and say about me, "Aha! Aha! Our own eyes have seen it."
22 This Thou hast seen, O LORD; keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.
22
You have seen it, O LORD. Do not remain silent. O Lord, do not be so far away from me.
23 Stir up Thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
23
Wake up, and rise to my defense. Plead my case, O my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
24
Judge me by your righteousness, O LORD my God. Do not let them gloat 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."
25
or think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up."
26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.
26
Let those who gloat over my downfall be thoroughly put to shame and confused. Let those who promote themselves at my expense be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 Let them shout for joy and be glad that favor my righteous cause; yea, let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified who hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
27
Let those who are happy when I am declared innocent joyfully sing and rejoice. Let them continually say, "The LORD is great. He is happy when his servant has peace."
28 And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long.
28
Then my tongue will tell about your righteousness, about your praise all day long.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.