| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Of David. Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. | 1By David. O LORD, fight those who fight with me! Attack those who attack me! |
| 2Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. | 2Grab your small shield and large shield, and rise up to help me! |
| 3Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, "I am your salvation." | 3Use your spear and lance against those who chase me! Assure me with these words: "I am your deliverer!" |
| 4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. | 4May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated! May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed! |
| 5May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; | 5May they be like wind-driven chaff, as the LORD's angel attacks them! |
| 6may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. | 6May their path be dark and slippery, as the LORD's angel chases them! |
| 7Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, | 7I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me and dug a pit to trap me. |
| 8may ruin overtake them by surprise-- may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. | 8Let destruction take them by surprise! Let the net they hid catch them! Let them fall into destruction! |
| 9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. | 9Then I will rejoice in the LORD and be happy because of his deliverance. |
| 10My 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." | 10With all my strength I will say, "O LORD, who can compare to you? You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them." |
| 11Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. | 11Violent men perjure themselves, and falsely accuse me. |
| 12They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved. | 12They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow. |
| 13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, | 13When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!) |
| 14I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. | 14I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother. |
| 15But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing. | 15But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest. |
| 16Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. | 16When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me. |
| 17How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. | 17O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions! |
| 18I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. | 18Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you before a large crowd of people! |
| 19Do 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. | 19Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me! Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes! |
| 20They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. | 20For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting. |
| 21They sneer at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it." | 21They are ready to devour me; they say, "Aha! Aha! We've got you!" |
| 22LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. | 22But you take notice, LORD! O Lord, do not remain far away from me! |
| 23Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. | 23Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me! My God and Lord, defend my just cause! |
| 24Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me. | 24Vindicate me by your justice, O LORD my God! Do not let them gloat over me! |
| 25Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up." | 25Do not let them say to themselves, "Aha! We have what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have devoured him!" |
| 26May 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. | 26May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation! |
| 27May 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." | 27May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice! May they continually say, "May the LORD be praised, for he wants his servant to be secure." |
| 28My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long. | 28Then I will tell others about your justice, and praise you all day long. |
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