1Of David. Contend, YHWH, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
2Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up in my help.
3And draw out the spear, and stop the way to meet my pursuers; say to my soul (nephesh): "I am your salvation (yeshuah)."
4Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my soul (nephesh); let them be turned back and abashed who devise my hurt.
5Let them be like chaff before the spirit (ruach), and the angel of YHWH driving them.
6Let their way be darkness and slippery places, and the angel of YHWH pursuing them.
7For without cause they hid for me the pit of their net; without cause they dug for my soul (nephesh).
8Let ruin come upon him when he knows not, and let his net which he hid catch him; into the ruin let him fall in it.
9And my soul (nephesh) shall exult in YHWH; it shall rejoice in his salvation (yeshuah).
10All my bones shall say, "YHWH, who is like you, delivering the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and the needy from one who robs him?"
11Witnesses of violence rise up; what I do not know they ask me.
12They repay me evil for good, bereavement to my soul (nephesh).
13But I, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I afflicted my soul (nephesh) with fasting, and my prayer returned upon my own bosom.
14As a friend, as a brother to me, I went about; as one mourning for a mother, I bowed down in gloom.
15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together; smiters gathered against me, and I did not know; they tore and did not cease.
16Among profane mockers for a cake, they gnashed at me with their teeth.
17My Lord (Adonai), how long will you look on? Bring back my soul (nephesh) from their ravages, my only one from the young lions.
18I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among a mighty people I will praise you.
19Let not those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me, nor those who hate me without cause wink the eye.
20For they speak not peace, but against the quiet ones of the land they devise words of deceits.
21And they opened wide their mouth against me; they said, "Aha, aha, our eye has seen!"
22You have seen, YHWH; do not be silent. My Lord (Adonai), be not far from me.
23Rouse yourself and awake to my judgment (mishpat), my God and my Lord (Adonai), to my cause.
24Judge me according to your righteousness, YHWH my God, and let them not rejoice over me.
25Let them not say in their heart, "Aha, our soul (nephesh)!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."
26Let them be ashamed and confounded together who rejoice at my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and confusion who magnify themselves against me.
27Let them shout and rejoice who delight in my righteousness, and let them say continually, "YHWH be magnified, who delights in the peace of his servant."
28And my tongue shall utter your righteousness, all the day your praise.