Against all those that strive with me, Assert my right, and set me free

1 Against all those that strive with me,
Assert my Right, and set me free!
Be thou, O LORD! my sure Protection,
And bring my Foes to thy Subjection.
Put on thy Buckler and thy Shield;
Stand up, O GOD, in my Defence;
Bring forth thy Spear, and to my Soul,
Say, "I am still thy Confidence."

2 Let them with sudden Shame be brought,
Who have my Soul's Destruction sought;
Let them who Mischief have devised,
Be with Confusion soon surprised:
Then shall they fly, dispers'd like Chaff
Before the furious driving Wind;
And from GOD's Minister of Wrath
They, no where, shall a Refuge find.

3 But when, his dreadful Rage to shun,
Thro' dark and slipp'ry Paths they run,
The Angel of the LORD pursuing,
Shall urge them on to speedy Ruin;
Since unprovok'd by any Wrong,
They laid for me their treach'rous Snare,
And, for my harmless Soul, a Pit,
Did without any Cause prepare.

4 Let them in Mischiefs be surpris'd,
Which for my Soul they had devis'd;
Their feet in their own Snares betrayed,
So shall their Treach'ry be repayed;
Whilst my glad Soul shall GOS's great Name,
For this his kind Deliv'rance bless;
And by His saving Health secur'd,
Her grateful Joy in Songs express.

Part II
5 My Bones shall say, from Anguish free,
"Oh LORD! who can compare with thee?
"Thou hast reliev'd the poor distressed,
"And all their heavy Wrongs redressed,"
"Who sett'st the poor and helpless Man
False Witnesses, with forg'd Complaints,
Against my Honour have combin'd;
And to my Charge unjustly laid.
Such Things as I had ne'er design'd.

6 For all the Good for them I wrought,
My Life they have with Malice sought;
My Soul to Danger still betraying,
My Kindnesses with Wrong repaying.
But as for me, when they were sick,
In Sack-cloth I sincerely mourn'd;
I pray'd and fasted, but my Pray'r
Again to my own Breast return'd.

7 Not to my Friends or Brethren dear,
Could I have shewn more tender Care;
Or for a Mother more deplored,
Whose Loss can never be restored.
How diff'rent did their Conduct prove,
To me in Times of deep Distress;
When they in Crouds together met,
And did their savage Joy express?

8 The Rabble too, in num'rous Throngs,
Came round, insulting me with Wrongs;
With Flatt'rers, busy Scoffers joined,
Against my Peace of Mind combined:
But, LORD, how long wilt thou look on?
Do thou on my Behalf appear!
And save my guiltless Soul, which they,
Like Beasts, would into Pieces tear.

Part III

9 So I, before the World will raise,
To thee, my GOD, loud Songs of Praise;
Thy Name in great Assemblies blessing,
My Thanks with humble Joy expressing:
LORD, suffer not my causeless Foes,
Who me do most unjustly hate;
With open Joy, or secret Signs,
To triumph in my sad Estate.

10 In framing Lies they never cease
With wicked Hearts averse to Peace;
Against the Just they have combined,
Who are to Quiet still inclined:
Nor with these private Arts content,
They vent their Spite aloud to all,
And say, "At last we have our Wish,
"With Pleasure we behold him fall."

11 But thou, O Lord, who dost survey,
Both them and me, keep not away;
But let thy Servant be defended,
And in his Innocence befriended:
LORD! as my Heart has upright been,
Let me thy Justice ever find;
Nor let my cruel Foes obtain
The Triumphs which they have design'd.

12 Oh let them not exulting say,
"At length he is become our Prey;
"Our fondest Wishes are compleated,
There - there he lies by us defeated."
Let such as in my Hurt rejoic'd,
With Shame confus'd, their Faces hide;
Dishonour be their Lot, who have
Themselves against me magnified.

13 Whilst constant Blessings shall attend,
On those who my just Cause befriend;
By them, O LORD, shalt thou be praised,
To thee shall all their Songs be raised:
So shall my Tongue thy Judgments sing,
Inspir'd with a grateful Joy;
And chearful Hymns in Praise of thee,
My GOD! shall all my Days employ.

Source: The Psalms of David: with the Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c. in metre...for the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church of the city of New York #XXXV