Psalms 35

1 [A Psalm] of David. Judge you, O Lord, them that injure me, fight against them that fight against me.

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

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

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

3 Bring forth a sword, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I am your salvation.

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

4 Let them that seek my soul be ashamed and confounded: let them that devise evils against me be turned back and put to shame.

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

5 Let them be as dust before the wind, and an angel of the Lord afflicting them.

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

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, and an angel of the Lord persecuting them.

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

7 For without cause they have hid for me their destructive snare: without a cause they have reproached my soul.

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

8 Let a snare which they know not come upon them; and the gin which they hid take them; and let them fall into the very same snare.

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

9 But my soul shall exult in the Lord: it shall delight in his salvation.

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

10 All my bones shall say, O Lord, who is like to you? delivering the poor out of the hand of them that are stronger than he, yes, the poor and needy one from them that spoil him.

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?”

11 Unjust witnesses arose, and asked me of things I new not.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.

12 They rewarded me evil for good, and bereavement to my soul.

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

13 But I, when they troubled me, put on sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting: and my prayer shall return to my [own] bosom.

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.

14 I behaved agreeably towards them as [if it had been] our neighbour [or] brother: I humbled myself as one mourning and sad of countenance.

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

15 Yet they rejoiced against me, and plagues were plentifully brought against me, and I knew [it] not: they were scattered, but repented not.

But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.

16 They tempted me, they sneered at me most contemptuously, they gnashed their teeth upon me.

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

17 O Lord, when will you look upon me? Deliver my soul from their mischief, mine only-begotten one from the lions.

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

18 I will give thanks to you even in a great congregation: in an abundant people I will praise you.

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

19 Let not them that are mine enemies without a cause rejoice against me; who hate me for nothing, and wink with their eyes.

Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.

20 For to me they spoke peaceably, but imagined deceits in [their] anger.

For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21 And they opened wide their mouth upon me; they said Aha, aha, our eyes have seen [it].

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

22 You have seen [it], O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, withdraw not [yourself] from me.

You have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.

23 Awake, O Lord, and attend to my judgement, [even] to my cause, my God and my Lord.

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

24 Judge me, O Lord, according to your righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice against me.

Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.

25 Let them not say in their hearts, Aha, aha, [it is pleasing] to our soul: neither let them say, We have devoured him.

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

26 Let them be confounded and ashamed together that rejoice at my afflictions: let them be clothed with shame and confusion that speak great swelling words against me.

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.

27 Let them that rejoice in my righteousness exult and be glad: and let them say continually, The Lord be magnified, who desire the peace of his servant.

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!”

28 And my tongue shall meditate on your righteousness, [and] on your praise all the day.

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