Psalms 35

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

Of David himself. O Lord, judge those who harm me; assail those who attack me.

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

Take hold of weapons and a shield, and rise up in assistance to me.

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

Bring forth the spear, and close in on those who persecute 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.

Let them be confounded and in awe, who pursue my soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded, who think up evil against me.

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

May they become like dust before the face of the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord hem them in.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, the LORD’s angel pursuing them.

May their way become dark and slippery, and may the Angel of the Lord pursue 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.

For, without cause, they have concealed their snare for me unto destruction. Over nothing, they have rebuked my soul.

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

Let the snare, of which he is ignorant, come upon him, and let the deception, which he has hidden, take hold of him: and may he fall into that very snare.

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

But my soul will exult in the Lord and delight over 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, “Lord, who is like you?” He rescues the needy from the hand of the stronger one, the indigent and the poor from those who plunder him.

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

Unfair witnesses have risen up, interrogating me about things of which I am ignorant.

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

They repaid me evil for good, to the deprivation of my soul.

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

But as for me, when they were harassing me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer will become my sinews.

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

Like a neighbor, and like our brother, so did I please; like one mourning and contrite, so was I humbled.

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.

And they have been joyful against me, and they joined together. Scourges have been gathered over me, and I was ignorant of it.

16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

They have been scattered, yet they were unremorseful. They have tested me. They scoffed at me with scorn. They gnashed their teeth over me.

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

Lord, when will you look down upon me? Restore my soul from before their malice, my only one from before the lions.

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

I will confess to you in a great Church. I will praise you among a weighty people.

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

May those who are my unjust adversaries not be glad over me: those who have hated me without cause, and who nod agreement with their eyes.

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

For indeed, they spoke peacefully to me; and speaking with passion to the earth, they intended deceit.

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

And they opened their mouth wide over me. They said, “Well, well, our eyes have seen.”

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

You have seen, O Lord, do not be silent. Lord, do not depart from me.

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

Rise up and be attentive to my judgment, to my cause, my God and my Lord.

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

Judge me according to your justice, O Lord, my God, and do not let them be glad over me.

25 Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

Do not let them say in their hearts, “Well, well, to our soul.” Neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”

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

Let them blush and be in awe together, those who congratulate at my misfortunes. Let them be clothed with confusion and awe, who speak great things against me.

27 Let those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”

Let them exult and rejoice, who wish my justice, and let them ever say, “The Lord be magnified,” who will the peace of his servant.

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

And so my tongue will express your justice: your praise all day long.