A Prayer for Rescue from Enemies |
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| 1 |
Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me:
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fight against them that fight against me. |
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| 2 |
Take hold of shield and buckler,
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and stand up for mine help. |
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| 3 |
Draw out also the spear,
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and stop the way against them that persecute me: |
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say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. |
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| 4 |
Let them be confounded and put to shame
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that seek after my soul: |
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let them be turned back and brought to confusion |
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that devise my hurt. |
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| 5 |
Let them be as chaff before the wind:
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and let the angel of the LORD chase them. |
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| 6 |
Let their way be dark and slippery:
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and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. |
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| 7 |
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit,
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which without cause they have digged for my soul. |
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| 8 |
Let destruction come upon him at unawares;
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and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: |
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into that very destruction let him fall. |
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| 9 |
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD:
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it shall rejoice in his salvation. |
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| 10 |
All my bones shall say,
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LORD, who is like unto thee, |
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which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, |
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yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? |
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| 11 |
False witnesses did rise up;
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they laid to my charge things that I knew not. |
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| 12 |
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
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| 13 |
But as for me, when they were sick,
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my clothing was sackcloth: |
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I humbled my soul with fasting; |
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and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. |
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| 14 |
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother:
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I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. |
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| 15 |
But in mine adversity they rejoiced,
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and gathered themselves together: |
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yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, |
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and I knew it not; |
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they did tear me, and ceased not: |
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| 16 |
with hypocritical mockers in feasts,
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they gnashed upon me with their teeth. |
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| 17 |
Lord, how long wilt thou look on?
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Rescue my soul from their destructions, |
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my darling from the lions. |
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| 18 |
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation:
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I will praise thee among much people. |
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| 19 |
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me:
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| 20 |
For they speak not peace:
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but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. |
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| 21 |
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me,
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and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. |
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| 22 |
This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence:
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O Lord, be not far from me. |
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| 23 |
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment,
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even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. |
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| 24 |
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness;
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and let them not rejoice over me. |
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| 25 |
Let them not say in their hearts,
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Ah, so would we have it: |
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let them not say, We have swallowed him up. |
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| 26 |
Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together
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that rejoice at mine hurt: |
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let them be clothed with shame and dishonor |
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that magnify themselves against me. |
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| 27 |
Let them shout for joy, and be glad,
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that favor my righteous cause: |
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yea, let them say continually, |
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Let the LORD be magnified, |
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which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. |
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| 28 |
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness
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and of thy praise all the day long. |
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