Day 7 : Morning Prayer

35 - Judica, Domine

1  Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me, *
and fight against those who fight against me.
2  Take up the shield and buckler, *
and stand up to help me.
3  Bring forth the spear and bar the way against those
  who pursue me; *
say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4  Let them be confounded and put to shame who seek
  after my life; *
let them be turned back and brought to confusion 
who imagine evil against me.

5  Let them be as the chaff before the wind, *
and let the angel of the Lord scatter them.
6  Let their way be dark and slippery, *
and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
7  For they have secretly laid their net to destroy me
  without a cause; *
indeed, without a cause have they made a pit 
to take away my life.
8  Let sudden destruction come upon them unawares, and the
  net, which they have laid secretly, catch themselves, *
that they may fall into their own trouble.
9  Then shall my soul be joyful in the Lord; *
I shall rejoice in his salvation.
10  All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like you? You deliver
  the poor from those who are too strong for them; *
indeed, the poor and those who are in misery from those 
who rob them.”
11  Malicious witnesses rise up; *
they charge me with matters I know nothing about.
12  They repay me evil for good, *
to the great sorrow of my soul.
13  Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth
  and humbled myself with fasting; *
I prayed with my whole heart, as if it had been my friend 
or my brother.
14  I behaved myself as one who mourns for his mother; *
I was bowed down with heaviness of heart.
15  But in my adversity, they rejoiced and gathered themselves
  together; *
indeed, those who struck me came together against me, 
and I had no rest; they tore at me, and would not cease.
16  When I stumbled they mocked me exceedingly, *
and gnashed at me with their teeth.

17  Lord, how long will you look on this? *
O deliver me from the calamities they bring upon me, 
and my life from the lions.
18  So will I give you thanks in the great congregation; *
I will praise you among many people.
19  O let not those who are my enemies triumph over me
  deceitfully; *
neither let them wink with their eyes, those who hate me 
without a cause.
20  For their talking is not for peace, *
but they imagine deceitful words against those who are 
quiet in the land.
21  They open their mouths at me, and say, *
“Aha! Aha! We saw it with our own eyes!”
22  This you have seen, O Lord. *
Hold not your tongue then; be not far from me, O Lord.
23  Awake, and stand up to judge my case; *
avenge my cause, my God and my Lord.
24  Judge me, O Lord my God, according to your righteousness, *
and let them not triumph over me.
25  Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha! We have what
  we want!” *
Neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”
26  Let them be put to confusion and shame who rejoice
  at my trouble; *
let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who boast 
against me.
27  Let them be glad and rejoice who favor my righteous cause; *
indeed, let them say always, “Great is the Lord, who takes 
pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
28  And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of your righteousness *
and of your praise all the day long.