Psalms 35

1 [By David.] Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

A psalm of David. Yahweh, work against those who work against me; fight against those who fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

Grab your small shield and large shield; rise up and help me.

3 Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation."

Use your spear and battle ax against those who chase me; say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

May those who seek my life be shamed and dishonored. May those who plan to harm me be turned back and confounded.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, The LORD's angel driving them on.

May they be as chaff before the wind, as the angel of Yahweh drives them away.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, The LORD's angel pursuing them.

May their way be dark and slippery, as the angel of Yahweh chases them.

7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

Without cause they set their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.

8 Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.

Let destruction overtake them by surprise. Let the net that they have set catch them. Let them fall into it, to their destruction.

9 My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

But I will be joyful in Yahweh and rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, "LORD, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?"

All my bones will say, “Yahweh, who is like you, who rescues the oppressed from those who are too strong for them and the poor and needy from those who try to rob them?”

11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I do not know about.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they accuse me falsely.

12 They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.

They repay me evil for good. I am sorrowful.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

But, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I fasted for them with my head bowed on my chest.

14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

I went about in grief as for my brother; I bent down in mourning as for my mother.

15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it. They tore at me, and did not cease.

But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together against me, and I was surprised by them. They tore at me without stopping.

16 When I tripped, they mocked me relentlessly; they gnashed their teeth at me.

With no respect at all they mocked me; they grind their teeth at me in rage.

17 LORD, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destructive attacks, my life from the lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.

Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you among many people.

19 Do not let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause and wink their eyes.

Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let them carry out their wicked schemes.

20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those in our land who live in peace.

21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, "Aha. Aha. Our eye has seen it."

They open their mouths wide against me; they said, “Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it.”

22 You have seen it, LORD. Do not keep silent. LORD, do not be far from me.

You have seen it, Yahweh, do not be silent; Lord, do not be far from me.

23 Wake up. Rise up to defend me, my God. My Lord, contend for me.

Arouse yourself and awake to my defense; My God and my Lord, defend my cause.

24 Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Do not let them gloat over me.

Defend me, Yahweh my God, because of your righteousness; do not let them rejoice over me.

25 Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha. Aha. Our desire." Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up."

Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, we have what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have devoured him.”

26 Let them be put to shame and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.

May they be put to shame and may they be confounded who rejoice at my distress. May those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and dishonor.

27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, who delights in the peace of his servant."

Let those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad; may they say continually, “Yahweh be praised, he who delights in the welfare of his servant.”

28 My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.

Then I will tell of your justice and praise you all day long.