Psalms 35
1 Of David. O Lord, be on my side against those who are judging me; be at war with those who make war against me.
“A psalm of David.” Contend, O LORD! with them that contend with me! Fight against them that fight against me!
2 Be a breastplate to me, and give me your help.
Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help!
3 Take up your spear and keep back my attackers; say to my soul, I am your salvation.
Draw forth the spear and the axe against my persecutors; Say to me, “I am thy salvation.”
4 Let them be overcome and put to shame who make attempts to take my soul; let those who would do me damage be turned back and made foolish.
May they be confounded and put to shame, who seek my life; May they be turned back with disgrace, who devise my hurt!
5 Let them be like dust from the grain before the wind; let the angel of the Lord send them in flight.
May they be like dust before the wind; May the angel of the LORD drive them!
6 Let their way be dark and full of danger; let them be troubled by the angel of the Lord.
May their way be dark and slippery, And may the angel of the LORD pursue them!
7 For without cause they have put a net ready for me secretly, in which to take my soul.
For without cause they have laid for me a snare; Without cause they have digged for me a pit.
8 Let destruction come on them without their knowledge; let them be taken themselves in their secret nets, falling into the same destruction.
May unforeseen destruction come upon them! May the snare which they have laid lay hold on themselves, And may they fall into destruction!
9 And my soul will have joy in the Lord; it will be glad in his salvation.
Then shall my soul rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in his protection.
10 All my bones will say, Lord, who is like you? The saviour of the poor man from the hands of the strong, of him who is poor and in need from him who takes his goods.
All my bones shall say, Who, O LORD! is like thee, Who dost rescue the afflicted from the oppressor, The afflicted and destitute from the spoiler?
11 False witnesses got up: they put questions to me about crimes of which I had no knowledge.
False witnesses have risen up; They charge me with that which has not entered my mind.
12 They gave me back evil for good, troubling my soul.
They repay me evil for good; They cause bereavement to my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were ill I put on the clothing of sorrow: I went without food and was sad, and my prayer came back again to my heart.
And yet I, during their sickness, clothed myself with sackcloth, And afflicted myself with fasting; And my prayer was turned to my bosom.
14 My behaviour was as if it had been my friend or my brother: I was bent low in grief like one whose mother is dead.
I behaved myself as if he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down in sadness, as one mourning for his mother.
15 But they took pleasure in my trouble, and came together, yes, low persons came together against me without my knowledge; they never came to an end of wounding me.
But at my fall they rejoice, and gather themselves together; Revilers whom I know not assemble themselves against me; They tear me without ceasing.
16 Like men of deceit they put me to shame; the voice of their wrath was loud against me.
With base men who mock for their bread, They gnash at me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long will you be looking on? take my soul from their destruction, my life from the lions.
How long, O LORD! wilt thou look on? O rescue my life from the destruction they plot for me; My precious life from these young lions!
18 I will give you praise in the great meeting; I will give you honour among a strong people.
I will thank thee in the great assembly! Before a numerous people I will praise thee.
19 Do not let my haters be glad over me falsely; let not those who are against me without cause make sport of me.
Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully triumph over me; Let them not wink with the eye, who hate me without cause!
20 For they do not say words of peace; in their deceit they are designing evil things against the quiet ones in the land.
For they speak not peace; They devise deceit against them that are quiet in the land.
21 Their mouths were open wide against me, and they said, Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.
Yea, they open their mouths wide against me; They say, “Aha, aha! our eyes seeth it.”
22 You have seen this, O Lord; be not unmoved: O Lord, be not far from me.
Thou seest it, O LORD! be not silent! O LORD! be not far from me!
23 Be awake, O Lord, be moved to take up my cause, my God and my Lord.
Arouse thyself; awake for my defence! My God and my Lord, awake to my cause!
24 Be my judge, O Lord my God, in your righteousness; do not let them be glad over me.
Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Jehovah, my God! Let them not triumph over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts, So we will have it: let them not say, We have put an end to him.
Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha! we have our wish!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26 Let all those who take pleasure in my troubles be shamed and come to nothing: let those who are lifted up against me be covered with shame and have no honour.
May they all be confounded and brought to shame, Who rejoice at my calamity! May they be clothed with ignominy and disgrace, Who exalt themselves against me!
27 Let those who are on my side give cries of joy; let them ever say, The Lord be praised, for he has pleasure in the peace of his servant.
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; Let them ever say, “The LORD be praised, Who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant!”
28 And my tongue will be talking of your righteousness and of your praise all the day.
So shall my tongue speak of thy righteousness, And daily repeat thy praise.
