Study Desk

A Psalm of David.

Contend, O Lord , with those who ^(a)contend with me; Fight against those who ^(b)fight against me.

Take hold of ^[a](c)buckler and shield And rise up for ^(d)my help.

Draw also the spear and ^[b]the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, "I am ^(e)your salvation."

Let those be ^(f)ashamed and dishonored who seek my ^[c]life; Let those be ^(g)turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.

Let them be ^(h)like chaff before the wind, With the angel of the Lord driving them on.

Let their way be dark and ⁽ⁱ⁾slippery, With the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

For ^(j)without cause they ^(k)hid their net for me; Without cause they dug a ^[d]pit for my soul.

Let ^(l)destruction come upon him unawares, And ^(m)let the net which he hid catch himself; Into that very ⁽ⁿ⁾destruction let him fall.

And my soul shall ^(o)rejoice in the Lord ; It shall ^(p)exult in His salvation.

All my ^(q)bones will say, " Lord , ^(r)who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from him ^(s)who is too strong for him, And ^(t)the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?"

^(u)Malicious witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I do not know.

They ^(v)repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my soul.

But as for me, ^(w)when they were sick, my ^(x)clothing was sackcloth; I ^(y)humbled my soul with fasting, And my ^(z)prayer kept returning to my bosom.

I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I ^(aa)bowed down ^[e]mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

But ^(ab)at my ^[f]stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; The ^[g](ac)smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me, They ^[h](ad)slandered me without ceasing.

Like godless jesters at a feast, They ^(ae)gnashed at me with their teeth.

Lord, ^(af)how long will You look on? Rescue my soul ^(ag)from their ravages, My ^(ah)only life from the lions.

I will ^(ai)give You thanks in the great congregation; I will ^(aj)praise You among a mighty throng.

^(ak)Do not let those who are wrongfully ^(al)my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those ^(am)who hate me without cause ^[i](an)wink maliciously.

For they do not speak peace, But they devise ^(ao)deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

They ^(ap)opened their mouth wide against me; They said, "^(aq)Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!"

^(ar)You have seen it, O Lord , ^(as)do not keep silent; O Lord, ^(at)do not be far from me.

^(au)Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

^(av)Judge me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness, And ^(aw)do not let them rejoice over me.

Do not let them say in their heart, "^(ax)Aha, our desire!" Do not let them say, "We have ^(ay)swallowed him up!"

Let ^(az)those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress; Let those be ^(ba)clothed with shame and dishonor who ^(bb)magnify themselves over me.

Let them ^(bc)shout for joy and rejoice, who favor ^(bd)my vindication; And ^(be)let them say continually, "The Lord be magnified, Who ^(bf)delights in the prosperity of His servant."

And ^(bg)my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.