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

fight against those who fight against me!

2 Take hold of shield and buckler,

and rise up to help me!

3 Draw the spear and javelin

against my pursuers;

say to my soul,

“I am your salvation.”

4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor

who seek after my life.

Let them be turned back and confounded

who devise evil against me.

5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,

with the angel of the Lord driving them on.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

7 For without cause they hid their neta for me;

without cause they dug a pitb for my life.

8 Let ruin come on them unawares.

And let the net that they hid ensnare them;

let them fall in it—to their ruin.

9 Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord,

exulting in his deliverance.

10 All my bones shall say,

“O Lord, who is like you?

You deliver the weak

from those too strong for them,

the weak and needy from those who despoil them.”