With them that strive, and fight with me

Verse 1

With them that strive and fight with me, Fight Lord; my cause defend.

Verse 2

Seize shield, and buckler, and arise, Me, with thine aid, befriend.

Verse 3

Advance thy pointed spear, and stop My persecutor's way; In mercy, to my trembling soul, I'm thy salvation, say.

Verse 4

Confounded, and ashamed, be they Who would my soul surprise; Turn back, and to confusion bring, All that my hurt devise.

Verse 5

Drive them, as chaff before the wind Let them thine angel chase;

Verse 6

Both dark, and slippery, make their way; And with swift vengeance trace.

Verse 7

For, unprovoked, they, for my soul, Have digged, and spread their net.

Verse 8

With sudden ruin, plunge him down. Into the toils he set.

Verse 9

Then, to the Lord, my grateful soul Shall shout her thankfulness; In his salvation I'll rejoice. And my deliverer bless.

Verse 10

My bones, preserved, shall say, O Lord, Who may with thee compare Who frees the helpless from the strong, And poor from spoiler's snare.

Verse 11

False witness rose, and charged me, With crimes I never knew;

Verse 12

They me reward with ill, for good; My very life pursue.

Verse 13

But I, when they were sick, myself With sackcloth did invest; With fasts I mourned, and my prayer Returned into my breast.

Verse 14

Had he, my friend or brother been, So were my actions turned; I bowed down heavily, as one That for his mother mourned.

Verse 15

But my least slip was their delight When they assembled were; Abjects, unknown, together get, My fame incessant tear.

Verse 16

Vile parasites, who cringe for bread, Admitted to their feasts, At me have snarled, and gnashed their teeth, And flung their impious jests.

Verse 17

How long, O Lord, wilt thou look on? Me rescue from their power; My darling from the lion keep, That threatens to devour.

Verse 18

So, in the congregation great, With thanks I'll thee confess; And, in the face of all the world, To thee my praise address.

Verse 19

Let not, with joy, insult o'er me My treacherous enemies; Nor them that hate me, without cause, Deride, with winking eyes.

Verse 20

Their words are not the words of peace, But foul malicious lies; Against the quiet in the land, They craftily devise.

Verse 21

Yea, with insult, they laughed, and said, "Ha, ha, our eye it saw.

Verse 22

Thou, Lord, hast seen, nor silence keep, Nor far from me withdraw.

Verse 23

Rouse, Lord, and to my judgment wake; My God, my cause decree;

Verse 24

Judge me, O Lord, as thou art just, Lest they triumph o'er me.

Verse 25

O let them never, in their heart, Have cause to boast, and say, "Ah! ah! 'tis as our heart could wish, He's now become our prey."

Verse 26

To shame, and to confusion, bring Who at my hurt, are glad; Let them, who magnify themselves, Be with dishonor clad.

Verse 27

Let those be glad, and shout for joy, Who my just cause confess; And say, "The Lord be magnified, Who loves his servant's peace."

Verse 28

So shall my tongue aloud proclaim The justice of thy ways; I'll spend my days in sacred hymns, To celebrate thy praise.