[1] O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me.
[2] Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.
[3] Lift up your spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say, “I will give you victory!”
[4] Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
[5] Blow them away like chaff in the wind— a wind sent by the angel of the Lord.
[6] Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
[7] 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] 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 I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me.
[10] 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] Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.
[12] They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair.
[13] Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.
[14] I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother.
[15] 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] They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.
[17] How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions!
[18] Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.
[19] 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 don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.
[21] They shout, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!”
[22] O Lord, you know all about this. Do not stay silent. Do not abandon me now, O Lord.
[23] Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord.
[24] Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.
[25] Don’t let them say, “Look, we got what we wanted! Now we will eat him alive!”
[26] May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.
[27] 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] Then I will proclaim your justice, and I will praise you all day long.