A Davidic Psalm.

Oppose those who oppose me, Adonai,

fight with those who fight me.

Gather up Your shield and buckler,

rise up to my aid.

Raise Your spear and ax

against those who pursue me.

Assure my soul “I’m your salvation.”

Let those who want to kill me

be disgraced and ashamed.

Let those who plot evil against me

be turned away in humiliation.

Let them be like windborne chaff;

driven away by the angel of Adonai.

Let their path be slippery and dark

and the angel of Adonai chasing them.

They laid a trap for me without reason,

and without reason

they dug a pit for my soul.

Let ruin overtake them

when they least expect it.

Let the trap they laid for me

ensnare them instead!

Let them fall into their trap to their ruin.

Then my soul will delight in Adonai

and rejoice in Adonai’s deliverance.

Even my bones will exclaim

“Who is like You, Adonai,

rescuing the lowly

from those who overpower them,

the lowly from robbers?”

Violent witnesses come forth,

they challenge me about things

I don’t know.

They return my good with evil,

grieving my soul.

Yet I wore sackcloth when they were ill

and humbled my soul with fasting.

When my prayers were unanswered,

I mourned as for my friend or relative.

I was bent in grief

as for my own parent.

But when I stumbled

they gleefully gathered against me.

Malicious strangers rose against me,

clawing at me without end.

They mocked me like the godless do,

grinding their teeth.

My Lord, how long will you watch this happen?

Deliver me from their assaults,

my lonely life from these lions.

I will praise You before the great assembly,

exulting You among the crowds.

Don’t let my enemies gloat over me

without reason

or let those who hate me

wink with derision.

For they don’t speak peacefully,

rather they speak lies

about those who live quietly here.

They jeer against me saying

“Yes, yes, we’ve seen it for ourselves!”

Adonai, You’ve noticed it,

don’t be silent.

Adonai, stay close to me.

Awaken and arise to defend me and my cause,

my Adonai and my God!

Prove my innocence, Adonai, my God,

in accordance with Your righteousness

and don’t allow them to gloat over me.

Don’t let them think to themselves

“Yes, we got what we wanted!

We gobbled him up!”

Let those who celebrate my misfortune

be humiliated and filled with shame.

Let those who

puff themselves up over me

wear the rags of shame and disgrace.

May those who seek my vindication

shout out with joy and gladness.

May such people forever say

“May Adonai be exalted,

Who delights in the peace of Adonai’s servant.”

Then my tongue will openly proclaim

Your justice

and praise You all day long.