Psalms 35

1 A Psalm of David. Strive, O LORD, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me.

For David himself. Judge thou, O Lord, them that wrong me: overthrow them that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to my help.

Take hold of arms and shield: and rise up to help me.

3 Draw out also the spear, and the battle-axe, against them that pursue me; say unto my soul: 'I am Thy salvation.'

Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be abashed that devise my hurt.

Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded that devise against me.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, the angel of the LORD thrusting them.

Let them become as dust before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord straiten them.

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

Let their way become dark and slippery; and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.

7 For without cause have they hid for me the pit, even their net, without cause have they digged for my soul.

For without cause they have hidden their net for me unto destruction: without cause they have upbraided my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon him unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself; with destruction let him fall therein.

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.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation.

But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; and shall be delighted in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say: 'LORD, who is like unto Thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?'

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.

11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.

Unjust witnesses rising up have asked me things I knew not.

12 They repay me evil for good; bereavement is come to my soul.

They repaid me evil for good: to the depriving me of my soul.

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

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.

14 I went about as though it had been my friend or my brother; I bowed down mournful, as one that mourneth for his mother.

As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled.

15 But when I halt they rejoice, and gather themselves together; the abjects gather themselves together against me, and those whom I know not; they tear me, and cease not;

But they rejoiced against me, and came together: scourges were gathered together upon me, and I knew not.

16 With the profanest mockeries of backbiting they gnash at me with their teeth.

They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, mine only one from the lions.

Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou soul from their malice: my only one from the lions.

18 I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a numerous people.

I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee in a strong people.

19 Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes.

20 For they speak not peace; but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

For they spoke indeed peaceably to me; and speaking in the anger of the earth they devised guile.

21 Yea, they open their mouth wide against me; they say: 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.'

And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said: Well done, well done, our eyes have seen it.

22 Thou hast seen, O LORD; keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

Thou hast seen, O Lord, be not thou silent: O Lord, depart not from me.

23 Rouse Thee, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Arise, and be attentive to my judgment: to my cause, my God, and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

Judge me, O Lord my God according to thy justice, and let them not rejoice over me.

25 Let them not say in their heart: 'Aha, we have our desire'; let them not say: 'We have swallowed him up.'

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.

26 Let them be ashamed and abashed together that rejoice at my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify themselves against me.

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.

27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that delight in my righteousness; yea, let them say continually: 'Magnified be the LORD, who delighteth in the peace of His servant.'

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.

28 And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day.

Any my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day long.