i went to church today. opened the book of Psalms to a random page. and this is what i read:
- Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!
- Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me!
- Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
- Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life. Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me.
- Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on.
- Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
- For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.
- Let ruin come on them unawares. And let the net that they hid ensnare them; let them fall in it—to their ruin.
- Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his deliverance.
- All my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like you? You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and needy from those who despoil them."
- Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me about things I do not know.
- They repay me evil for good; my soul is forlorn.
- But as for me, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed on my bosom,
- as though I grieved for a friend or a brother; I went about as one who laments for a mother, bowed down and in mourning.
- But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; ruffians whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;
- they impiously mocked more and more, gnashing at me with their teeth.
- How long, O LORD, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my life from the lions!
- Then I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.
- Do not let my treacherous enemies rejoice over me, or those who hate me without cause wink the eye.
- For they do not speak peace, but they conceive deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
- They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it."
- You have seen, O LORD; do not be silent! O Lord, do not be far from me!
- Wake up! Bestir yourself for my defense, for my cause, my God and my Lord!
- Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me.
- Do not let them say to themselves, "Aha, we have our heart's desire." Do not let them say, "We have swallowed you up."
- Let all those who rejoice at my calamity be put to shame and confusion; let those who exalt themselves against me be clothed with shame and dishonor.
- Let those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad, and say evermore, "Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant."
- Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.
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