The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook ‎#P35

P35. Plead, Lord, with those that plead and fight

1 Plead, Lord, with those that plead; and fight
with those that fight with me.
2 Of shield and buckler take thou hold,
stand up mine help to be.
3 Draw also out the spear, and stop
my persecutors' way,
and in thy mercy, to my soul,
I’m thy salvation, say.

4 Let them confounded be and shamed
that for my soul have sought:
who plot my hurt turned back be they,
and to confusion brought.
5 Let them be like unto the chaff
that flies before the wind;
and let the angel of the Lord
pursue them hard behind.

6 With darkness cover thou their way,
and let it slippery prove;
and let the angel of the Lord
pursue them from above.
7 For without cause have they for me
their secret hid their snare;
and they a pit without a cause
did for my soul prepare.

8 Let ruin seize him unawares;
his net he hid withal
himself let catch; and in the same
destruction let him fall.
9 My soul in God shall joy, and glad
in his salvation be:
10 and all my bones shall say, O Lord,
Who is like unto thee,

Who dost the poor set free from him
that is for him too strong;
the poor and needy from the man
that spoils and does him wrong?
11 False witnesses rose; 'gainst me
things that I not knew not laid:
12 they to the spoiling of my soul
me ill for good repaid.

13 But as for me, when they were sick,
in sackcloth sad I mourned;
my humbled soul did fast, my prayer
into my bosom turned.
14 I bore myself as for a friend,
or brother dear to me;
as one who for a mother mourns,
I bowed down heavily.

15 But in my trouble they rejoiced,
and they together met;
the abjects vile together did
themselves against me set.
I knew it not; they did me tear,
and quiet would not be.
16 with mocking hypocrites at feasts
they gnashed their teeth at me.

17 How long, Lord, look’st thou on? from those
destructions they intend
rescue my soul, from lions young
my darling do defend.
18 I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,
within the assembly great;
and where much people gathered are
thy praises forth will set.

19 Let not my wrongful enemies
proudly rejoice o’er me;
nor let them wink with scornful eye,
who hate me causelessly.
20 For peace they do not speak at all:
but crafty plots prepare
against all those within the land
that meek and quiet are.

21 Their mouths they open wide at me,
they say, Ha, ha! we see:
22 Lord, thou hast seen, hold not thy peace;
Lord, be not far from me.
23 Stir up thyself; wake, that thou may’st
judgment to me afford,
even to my cause, O thou that art
my only God and Lord.

24 O Lord my God, do thou me judge
after thy righteousness;
and let them not their joy ‘oer me
triumphantly express:
25 nor let them say within their hearts,
Ah, we would have it thus;
nor suffer them to say, Lo, he
is swallowed up by us.

26 Shamed and confounded be they all
that at my hurt are glad;
let those against me that do boast
with shame and scorn be clad.
27 Let them who love my righteous cause
with gladness shout, nor cease
to say, The Lord be magnified,
who loves his servant’s peace.

28 Thy righteousness shall also be
declared by my tongue;
the praises that belong to thee
speak shall it all day long.

Text Information

• First Line: Plead, Lord, with those that plead and fight
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2004
• Scripture:
  Psalm 35

Tune Information

• Name: CULROSS
• Meter: CM
• Key: a minor
• Source: Scottish Psalter, 1634