A Psalm of David.

1. PLEAD my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul," I am thy salvation."

4. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.

6. Let their way be dark and slippery and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

7. For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself into that very destruction let him fall.

9. And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord : it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10. All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him

that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11. False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15. But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not : 16. With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20. For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21. Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, "Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it."

22. This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judg ment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24. Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice

over me.

25. Let them not say in their hearts, "Ah, so would we have it:" let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."

26. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27. Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

28. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

PSALM XXXVI.

Reflections and prayer of David, on resolving to seek refuge a second time amongst the Philistines, in order to escape the hands of Saul; who, contrary to repeated promises, persecuted him in every part of the land of Israel. 1 Sam. xxvii. 1. David reflects on the obduracy of Saul, his fatherin-law, and comforts himself with the sense of his favour by which God can support his children, even in the midst of the most severe calamities, by which he tries their faith.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.

To the giver of victory. (A Psalm) of David, the servant of the Lord.

1. THE transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

3. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

4. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

5. Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

6. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

7. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

9. For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light.

10. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

11. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove

me.

12. There are the workers of iniquity fallen : they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

PSALM XXXVII. 110.

Psalm composed by David to sustain, console, and instruct his little handful of followers, who were tempted with an envious, discouraged, and murmuring spirit at the state of extreme necessity in which they found themselves at Mahanaim, whither they withdrew, having crossed the Jordan, from the wilderness of Judæa, to escape the pursuit of Absalom. 2 Sam. xvii. 24.

A Psalm of David.

1. FRET not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.