1 My God, deliver me from those
that are mine enemies;
And do thou me defend from those
that up against me rise.
2 Do thou deliver me from them
that work iniquity;
And give me safety from the men
of bloody cruelty.
3 For, lo, they for my soul lay wait:
the mighty do combine
Against me, Lord; not for my fault,
nor any sin of mine.
4 They run, and, without fault in me,
themselves do ready make:
Awake to meet me with thy help;
and do thou notice take.
5 Awake therefore, Lord God of hosts,
thou God of Israel,
To visit heathen all: spare none
that wickedly rebel.
6 At ev’ning they go to and fro;
they make great noise and sound,
Like to a dog, and often walk
about the city round.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth,
and in their lips are swords:
For they do say thus, Who is he
that now doth hear our words?
8 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them,
and all the heathen mock.
9 While he’s in pow’r I’ll wait on thee;
for God is my high rock.
10 He of my mercy that is God
betimes shall me prevent;
Upon mine en’mies God shall let
me see mine heart’s content.
11 Them slay not, lest my folk forget;
but scatter them abroad
By thy strong pow’r; and bring them down,
O thou our shield and God.
12 For their mouth’s sin, and for the words
that from their lips do fly,
Let them be taken in their pride;
because they curse and lie.
13 In wrath consume them, them consume,
that so they may not be:
And that in Jacob God doth rule
to th’ earth’s ends let them see.
14 At ev’ning let thou them return,
making great noise and sound,
Like to a dog, and often walk
about the city round.
15 And let them wander up and down,
in seeking food to eat;
And let them grudge when they shall not
be satisfy’d with meat.
16 But of thy pow’r I’ll sing aloud;
at morn thy mercy praise:
For thou to me my refuge wast,
and tow’r, in troublous days.
17 O God, thou art my strength, I will
sing praises unto thee;
For God is my defence, a God
of mercy unto me.