Lord, Defend Me in the Fight

1 O Lord, defend me in the fight; contend with those who fight with me; 2 take up your shield, protect my life; 3 with spear confront the enemy. Amid the conflict, O my Lord, your precious promise let me hear, the faithful, reassuring word: “I am your Savior; do not fear.” 4 Those who desire to take my life humbled and shamed let them all be; Let them be thwarted and turned back, those who plot evil things for me. 5 Let them be chaff before the wind, with the LORD’s angel driving them. 6 Make their way dark and slippery, with the LORD’s angel chasing them. 7 Without a cause my life they sought, without a cause their plots they laid; 8 let them within their snares be caught, and all my crafty foes dismayed. 9 My soul is joyful in the Lord, in his salvation I rejoice; to him my heart will praise accord and bless his name with thankful voice. 10 For who, O Lord, compares with you, defender of the poor and meek? The needy know your promise true when mighty foes their ruin seek. 11 Unrighteous witnesses have stood and told of crimes beyond belief; 12 returning evil for my good, they overwhelm my soul with grief. 13 When in affliction they were sad, 14 I wept and made their grief my own; 15 but in my trouble they are glad 16 and love to see me overthrown The psalm continues with Psalm 35B. – vv. 1-3, 7-16 Psalter, 1912, alt. as in New Psalter: Songs for the Church, alt.; vv. 4-6 Book of Psalms for Worship