| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1[i]A Psalm[/i] of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. | 1Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me. |
| 2Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help. | 2Take up Your shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. |
| 3Also draw out the spear, And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” | 3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.” |
| 4Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt. | 4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded. |
| 5Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the LORD chase them. | 5May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away. |
| 6Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the LORD pursue them. | 6May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues. |
| 7For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, Which they have dug without cause for my life. | 7For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul. |
| 8Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall. | 8May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created. |
| 9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation. | 9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation. |
| 10All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?” | 10All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?” |
| 11Fierce witnesses rise up; They ask me things that I do not know. | 11Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about. |
| 12They reward me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul. | 12They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul. |
| 13But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. | 13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. |
| 14I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother. | 14I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother. |
| 15But in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease; | 15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing. |
| 16With ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth. | 16Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me. |
| 17Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, My precious life from the lions. | 17How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. |
| 18I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people. | 18Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people. |
| 19Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause. | 19Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice. |
| 20For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful matters Against the quiet ones in the land. | 20For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land. |
| 21They also opened their mouth wide against me, And said, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it.” | 21They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!” |
| 22This You have seen, O LORD; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me. | 22O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me. |
| 23Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, To my cause, my God and my Lord. | 23Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord! |
| 24Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me. | 24Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me. |
| 25Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” | 25Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!” |
| 26Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who rejoice at my hurt; Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor Who exalt themselves against me. | 26May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach. |
| 27Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” | 27May those who favor my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in His servant’s well-being.” |
| 28And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long. | 28Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness and Your praises all day long. |
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