Judica, Domine, nocentes me.
David, in the person of Christ, prayeth against his persecutors:
prophetically foreshewing the punishments that shall fall upon them.
34:1. For David himself. Judge thou, O Lord, them that wrong me:
overthrow them that fight against me.
34:2. Take hold of arms and shield: and rise up to help me.
34:3. Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that
persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation.
34:4. Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul. Let
them be turned back and be confounded that devise evil against me.
34:5. Let them become as dust before the wind: and let the angel of the
Lord straiten them.
34:6. Let their way become dark and slippery; and let the angel of the
Lord pursue them.
34:7. For without cause they have hidden their net for me unto
destruction: without cause they have upbraided my soul.
34:8. Let the snare which he knoweth not come upon him: and let the net
which he hath hidden catch him: and into that very snare let them fall.
34:9. But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; and shall be delighted in
his salvation.
34:10. All my bones shall say: Lord, who is like to thee? Who
deliverest the poor from the hand of them that are stronger than he;
the needy and the poor from them that strip him.
34:11. Unjust witnesses rising up have asked me things I knew not.
34:12. They repaid me evil for good: to the depriving me of my soul.
34:13. But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed
with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be
turned into my bosom.
34:14. As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one
mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled.
34:15. But they rejoiced against me, and came together: scourges were
gathered together upon me, and I knew not.
34:16. They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they
scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
34:17. Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou my soul from
their malice: my only one from the lions.
34:18. I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee
in a strong people.
34:19. Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who
have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes.
34:20. For they spoke indeed peaceably to me; and speaking in the anger
of the earth they devised guile.
34:21. And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said: Well
done, well done, our eyes have seen it.
34:22. Thou hast seen, O Lord, be not thou silent: O Lord, depart not
from me.
34:23. Arise, and be attentive to my judgment: to my cause, my God, and
my Lord.
34:24. Judge me, O Lord my God according to thy justice, and let them
not rejoice over me.
34:25. Let them not say in their hearts: It is well, it is well, to our
mind: neither let them say: We have swallowed him up.
34:26. Let them blush: and be ashamed together, who rejoice at my
evils. Let them be clothed with confusion and shame, who speak great
things against me.
34:27. Let them rejoice and be glad, who are well pleased with my
justice, and let them say always: The Lord be magnified, who delights
in the peace of his servant.
34:28. And my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day
long.