1 Or “contend.”
2 Two different types of shields are mentioned here. See also Ezek 38:4. Many modern translations render the first term (translated here “small shield”) as “buckler” (cf. “buckler and shield”; the order is often reversed in the translation, apparently for stylistic reasons: cf. , , “shield and buckler”). The English term “buckler,” referring to a small round shield held on the arm to protect the upper body, is unfamiliar to many modern readers, so the term “small shield” was used in the present translation for clarity.
3 Or “javelin.” On the meaning of this word, which occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible, see M. Dahood, Psalms (), 1:.
4 Heb “draw out spear and lance to meet.”
5 Heb “say to me,” or “say to my soul.”
6 The four prefixed verbal forms in this verse are understood as jussives. The psalmist is calling judgment down on his enemies. See also the distinct jussive form in v. 6.
7 The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive. See v. 4.
8 See the mention of the Lord’s angel in Ps 34:7.
9 Heb “as the Lord’s angel pushes [them].”
10 The prefixed verbal form is distinctly jussive, indicating this is a prayer.
11 Heb “for without cause they hid for me a pit of their net, without cause they dug for my life.” It appears that the words “pit” and “net” have been transposed. “Net” goes with the verb “hid” in the first line (see v. 8, as well as Pss 9:15; 31:4), while “pit” goes with the verb “dug” in the second line (see Ps 7:15).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me!

Take hold of shield and buckler

and rise for my help!

Draw the spear and javelin

against my pursuers!

Say to my soul,

“I am your salvation!”

Let them be put to shame and dishonor

who seek after my life!

Let them be turned back and disappointed

who devise evil against me!

Let them be like chaff before the wind,

with the angel of the Lord driving them away!

Let their way be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!

For without cause they hid their net for me;

without cause they dug a pit for my life.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me.

Take up shield and armor;

arise and come to my aid.

Brandish spear and javelin

against those who pursue me.

Say to me,

“I am your salvation.”

May those who seek my life

be disgraced and put to shame;

may those who plot my ruin

be turned back in dismay.

May they be like chaff before the wind,

with the angel of the Lord driving them away;

may their path be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

Since they hid their net for me without cause

and without cause dug a pit for me,

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Oppose my opponents, Lord;

fight those who fight me.

Take your shields—large and small—

and come to my aid.

Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers,

and assure me, “I am your deliverance.”

Let those who intend to take my life

be disgraced and humiliated;

let those who plan to harm me

be turned back and ashamed.

Let them be like chaff in the wind,

with the angel of the Lord driving them away.

Let their way be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

They hid their net for me without cause;

they dug a pit for me without cause.

NLTNew Living Translation

O Lord, oppose those who oppose me.

Fight those who fight against me.

Put on your armor, and take up your shield.

Prepare for battle, and come to my aid.

Lift up your spear and javelin

against those who pursue me.

Let me hear you say,

“I will give you victory!”

Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me;

turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.

Blow them away like chaff in the wind—

a wind sent by the angel of the Lord.

Make their path dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

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.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Contend, O Yahweh, with my contenders;

fight those who fight me.

Grasp buckler and shield

and rise to my aid.

And draw the spear and javelin to meet those who pursue me.

Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

Let those who seek my life be shamed and humiliated.

Let those who plot calamity against me be repulsed and ashamed.

Let them be like chaff before the wind,

with the angel of Yahweh driving them.

Let their way be dark and slippery,

with the angel of Yahweh pursuing them.

For without cause they secretly hide the pit with their net for me;

without cause they dug it for my life.

KJV 1900King James Version

Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me:

Fight against them that fight against me.

Take hold of shield and buckler,

And stand up for mine help.

Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me:

Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul:

Let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

Let them be as chaff before the wind:

And let the angel of the Lord chase them.

Let their way be dark and slippery:

And let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit,

Which without cause they have digged for my soul.

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