O Lord, defend me from those who accuse me; fight against those who fight against me. Put on your armor and take your shield, prepare for battle and come to my aid. Raise your spear and your shield against those who pursue me. Let me hear you say: “I will give you the victory!” May those who seek to kill me be defeated and humiliated, those who plan to harm me retreat in embarrassment. Blow them away like chaff before the wind, and may the angel of the Lord disperse them. Make their way dark and slippery, and may the angel of the Lord persecute them. I have done no harm to them, but they have set a trap for me; without cause they opened a pit to catch me. Therefore, may sudden destruction come upon them! May they be caught in the trap they laid for me, may they fall into the pit they dug for me. Then I will rejoice in the Lord, exulting because he has saved me. I will praise him with all the bones of my body: “Lord, who is like you? Who besides you rescues the defenseless from the hands of the strong? Who protects the poor and the humble from those who oppress them?” Wicked witnesses rise up against me and accuse me of crimes I did not commit. They repay me evil for good; I am in despair! When they were sick, I mourned; I humbled myself with fasting for them, but my prayers were not answered. As if they were my friends or family, I was saddened, as if I mourned for my mother. But now, in my distress, they rejoice; triumphant, they gather against me. People I do not know attack me, assaulting me relentlessly. They mock me and insult me, gnash their teeth and glare at me. How long, Lord, will you look on? Deliver me from their fierce attacks, rescue me from these lions! Then I will give you thanks before the assembly and praise you in the presence of the people. Do not let my enemies laugh at me, do not let those who hate me without reason despise me. They do not speak peace; they plot against those who live peacefully on the land. They cry out: “Ah! Now we have him! We saw him with our own eyes!” You have seen all this, Lord; do not remain silent, Lord, and do not abandon me now. Awake! Rise up to give me justice! Defend my cause, my God and my Lord. Judge me, Lord, my God, according to your righteousness; do not let my enemies laugh at me. Do not let them say, “We achieved what we wanted! Now let us finish him off!” May those who rejoice at my calamity be put to shame and humiliated. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor. Rejoice and be glad, however, those who defend me; and may they always say: “Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing his servant with peace!” Then I will proclaim your righteousness and praise you all day long.