Psalms 34
1Judge you, O Lord, them that injure me, fight against them that fight against me. 1
2Take hold of shield and buckler, and arise for my help. 1
3Bring forth a sword, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I am your salvation. 1
4Let them that seek my soul be ashamed and confounded: let them that devise evils against me be turned back and put to shame. 1
5Let them be as dust before the wind, and an angel of the Lord afflicting them. 1
6Let their way be dark and slippery, and an angel of the Lord persecuting them. 1
7For without cause they have hid for me their destructive snare: without a cause they have reproached my soul. 1
8Let a snare which they know not come upon them; and the gin which they hid take them; and let them fall into the very same snare. 1
9But my soul shall exult in the Lord: it shall delight in his salvation. 1
10All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like to you? delivering the poor out of the hand of them that are stronger than he, yes, the poor and needy one from them that spoil him. 1
11Unjust witnesses arose, and asked me of things I new not. 1
12They rewarded me evil for good, and bereavement to my soul. 1
13But I, when they troubled me, put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting: and my prayer shall return to my own bosom. 1
14I behaved agreeably towards them as if it had been our neighbour or brother: I humbled myself as one mourning and sad of countenance. 1
15Yet they rejoiced against me, and plagues were + 34:15 The Gr. is repeated, by a Hebraism. plentifully brought against me, and I knew it not: they were scattered, but + 34:15 See Acts 2:37. repented not. 1
16They tempted me, they sneered at me most contemptuously, they gnashed their teeth upon me. 1
17O Lord, when will you look upon me? Deliver my soul from their mischief, my only-begotten one from the lions. 1
18I will give thanks to you even in a great congregation: in an abundant people I will praise you. 1
19Let not them that are my enemies without a cause rejoice against me; who hate me for nothing, and wink with their eyes. 1
20For to me they spoke peaceably, but imagined deceits in their anger. 1
21And they opened wide their mouth upon me; they said Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it. 1
22You have seen it, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, withdraw not yourself from me. 1
23Awake, O Lord, and attend to my judgement, even to my cause, my God and my Lord. 1
24Judge me, O Lord, according to your righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice against me. 1
25Let them not say in their hearts, Aha, aha, it is pleasing to our soul: neither let them say, We have devoured him. 1
26Let them be confounded and ashamed together that rejoice at my afflictions: let them be clothed with shame and confusion that speak great swelling words against me. 1
27Let them that rejoice in my righteousness exult and be glad: and let them say continually, The Lord be magnified, who desire the peace of his servant. 1
28And my tongue shall meditate on your righteousness, and on your praise all the day.