1 Lord, plead my cause against my foes,
confound their force and might,
And take my part against all those
that seek with me to fight.

2 Lay bold upon the spear and shield,
thyself in armour dress;
Stand up with me to fight the field,
and help me from distress

3 Gird on thy sword, and stop the way,
my enemies withstand;
That thou unto my soul may'st say,
I am thy help at hand

4 Confound them with rebuke and blame,
that seek my soul to spill;
Let them turn back and flee with shame,
that think to work me ill

5 Let them disperse and flee abroad,
as wind doth drive the dust;
That so the angel of our God
their might away may thrust

6 Let all their ways be void of light,
and slipp'ry, like to fall;
And send thy angel with thy might
to persecute them all

7 For why? Without my fault have they
in secret set their gin,
And digged a pit in my path-way,
to take my soul therein

8 When they think least, and have no care,
O Lord, destroy them all;
Let them be caught in their own snare,
and in their mischief fall

9 But let my soul, my heart, and voice,
in God have joy and wealth;
That in the Lord I may rejoice,
and in his saving health

10 Then all my bones shall speak and say,
(my parts shall all agree)
O thou great God of heav'n and earth,
what man is like to thee!

The Second Part

11 Thou dost defend the weak from them
that are both stout and strong
And rid the poor from wicked men,
that spoil and do them wrong

12 My cruel foes against me rise,
to witness things untrue;
And to accuse me they devise
of things I never knew

13 Where I to them did show good will,
they quit me with disdain;
That they should pay my good with ill,
my soul doth sore complain

14 When they were sick I mourned therefore,
myself in sackcloth clad,
With fasting I did faint full sore,
and prayed with heart most sad

15 As they had been my brethren dear,
I did myself behave
As one that mourneth heavily
about his mother's grave

16 But they in my adversity
did gather in a rout;
Yea, abject slaves reproachfully
at me did mock and flout.

17 The belly-gods and flatt'ring train,
that all good things deride,
At me did grin with great disdain,
turning their mouths aside

18 Lord, when wilt thou for me appear?
Why dost thou stay and pause/
O rid my soul, my darling dear,
out of these lions' claws

19 And when will I give thanks to thee
before the church always;
And where most of the people be,
there will I show thy praise

20 Nor let my foes prevail on me,
which hate me for no fault;
Neither let them wink with their eyes,
that causeless me assault

The Third Part

21 Of peace no word they think or say,
their talk is all untrue;
They still consult how to betray
all those that peace pursue

22 With open mouth they run at me,
their fury is like fire:
Well, well, say they, our eye doth see
the thing that we desire

23 But, Lord, thou seest what ways they take,
and what they do intend;
Be not far off, nor me forsake,
but speedy help me send

24 Awake, arise, and stir abroad,
defend me in my right:
Revenge my cause, O Lord my God,
and aid me with thy might

25 According to thy righteousness<
O Lord God, set me free;
And let them not their price express,
nor triumph over me

26 Let not their hearts rejoice nor cry,
E'en so we would it have;
Nor give them cause to say on high,
He's sunk into the grave

27 Confound them all that do rejoice,
when they my trouble see;
Let them be clothed with rebuke,
that boast with scorn at me

28 But let them heartily rejoice,
who love my upright way;
Let them all times with heart and voice
still praise the Lord and say

29 Great is the Lord, and doth excel,
and he doth much delight
To see his servants prosper well,
it is his pleasant sight

30 Wherefore my tongue I will apply,
thy righteousness to praise:
To thee, O Lord my God, will I
give laud and thanks always.