Psalms 35
1 For David himself. Judge thou, O Lord, them that wrong me: overthrow them that fight against me.
Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of arms and shield: and rise up to help me.
Take up Your shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
3 Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation.
Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
4 Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded that devise against me.
May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
5 Let them become as dust before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord straiten them.
May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away.
6 Let their way become dark and slippery; and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues.
7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me unto destruction: without cause they have upbraided my soul.
For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let the snare which he knoweth not come upon him: and let the net which he hath hidden catch him: and let the net which he hath hidden catch him: and into that very snare let them fall.
May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.
9 But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; and shall be delighted in his salvation.
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.
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.
All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”
11 Unjust witnesses rising up have asked me things I knew not.
Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.
12 They repaid me evil for good: to the depriving me of my soul.
They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.
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.
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.
14 As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled.
I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.
15 But they rejoiced against me, and came together: scourges were gathered together upon me, and I knew not.
But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
16 They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou soul from their malice: my only one from the lions.
How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee in a strong people.
Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.
19 Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes.
Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
20 For they spoke indeed peaceably to me; and speaking in the anger of the earth they devised guile.
For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.
21 And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said: Well done, well done, our eyes have seen it.
They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”
22 Thou hast seen, O Lord, be not thou silent: O Lord, depart not from me.
O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Arise, and be attentive to my judgment: to my cause, my God, and my Lord.
Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Judge me, O Lord my God according to thy justice, and let them not rejoice over me.
Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.
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.
Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”
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.
May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.
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.
May those who favor my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in His servant’s well-being.”
28 Any my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day long.
Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness and Your praises all day long.
