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Plead 1 my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
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Take hold of shield and 2 buckler,
And stand up for my help.
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Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
"I am your salvation."
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a Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor
Who seek after my life;
Let those be b turned back and brought to confusion
Who plot my hurt.
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c Let them be like chaff before the wind,
And let the 3 angel 3 of the LORD chase them.
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Let their way be d dark and slippery,
And let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
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For without cause they have e hidden their net for me in a pit,
Which they have dug without cause for my life.
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5 Let f destruction come upon him unexpectedly,
And let his net that he has hidden catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.
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And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
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g All my bones shall say,
"LORD, h 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?"
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Fierce witnesses rise up;
They ask me things that I do not know.
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i They reward me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.
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But as for me, j when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own 6 heart.
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I paced about as though he were my friend or brother;
I bowed down 7 heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.
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But in my 8 adversity they rejoiced
And gathered together;
Attackers gathered against me,
And I did not know it;
They tore at me and did not cease;
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With ungodly mockers at feasts
They gnashed at me with their teeth.
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Lord, how long will You k look on?
Rescue me from their destructions,
My precious life from the lions.
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I will give You thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise You among 9 many people.
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l Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies;
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
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For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful matters
Against the quiet ones in the land.
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They also opened their mouth wide against me,
And said, "Aha, aha!
Our eyes have seen it."
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This You have seen, O LORD;
Do not keep silence.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
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Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
To my cause, my God and my Lord.
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Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
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Let them not say in their hearts, "Ah, so we would have it!"
Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."
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Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be m clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.
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n Let 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."
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And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.