Commentary on Psalms - Volume 5

1Plead, O Jehovah! with those who plead with me, Fight against those who fight against me.

2Lay hold on shield and buckler, And rise up to my aid.

3Draw out the spear, and stop my ears against my persecutors: Say to my soul, “Thy salvation am I.”

4Let those be confounded and put to shame Who seek my soul, Let those be turned back and be abashed Who devise my hurt.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind? And let the angel of Jehovah drive them.

6Let their way be darkness and slipperiness; And let the angel of Jehovah pursue them:

7For without a cause they have hid for me the pitfall of their net, ³²² Without a cause they have digged a pit for my soul.

8Let there come upon him confusion of which he is not aware; And let the net which he hath hidden catch him; With confusion let him fall into it.

9And my soul hath exulted in Jehovah, It shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, “O Jehovah! who is like to thee, “Rescuing the poor from him who is too strong for him, “The poor and wretched from his spoiler?”

11Rise up do witnesses [that are] violent; Things which I have not known they ask me.

12They repay me evil for good, To the bereaving of my soul.

13But as for me, in their sickness my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted by fasting my soul; And my prayer upon my own bosom was turned.

14As if he had been a friend, as if a brother to me, I behaved myself towards him: As he who mourneth heavily for his mother I humbled myself.

15But they at my halting rejoiced, they were assembled together: Assembled together, I say, against me, were the abjects whom I had not known: They have torn with their lips and have not been silent.

16Among perfidious jesters at feasts, They gnash upon me with their teeth.

17O Lord! how long wilt thou behold it? Rescue my soul from their violence, From the lions my only one.

18I will celebrate thee in the congregation great: Among people many I will praise thee.

19Let not those rejoice over me, who unjustly are my enemies; Nor let those who hate me without a cause wink with the eye.

20For peace they speak not;

21They have opened against me their mouth; They have said, “Aha! aha! seen it hath our eye.”

22Thou hast seen it also, O Jehovah: Be not silent, O Lord! be not far from me.

23Arouse thyself, and awake for my judgment, My God! and my Lord! to my cause.

24Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Jehovah, my God! And let them not rejoice over me.

25Let them not say in their heart, “Aha! our soul!” Let them not say “We have destroyed him.”

26Let those be ashamed and confounded together, Who rejoice at my calamity; Let those be clothed with shame and ignominy, Who magnify themselves against me.

27But let those shout and rejoice, who favor my righteousness: And let them say continually, “Magnified be Jehovah! “Who loveth the peace of his servant.”

28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness; All the day of thy praise.