Psalms 35

1 “Of David.” Contend, O Lord, with those that contend with me: fight against those that fight against me.

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

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

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

3 And draw out the spear, and step in against my pursuers; say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

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

4 Let those be put to shame and be confounded that seek after my life: let those be turned backward and be made to blush, that devise unhappiness for me.

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

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord cast them forth.

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

6 May their way be dark and slippery: and may the angel of the Lord pursue them.

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

7 For without cause have they hidden for me their net in a pit, without cause have they dug [pit-falls] against my life.

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

8 May then destruction come upon each of them at unawares; and may his net that he hath hidden catch himself: in [utter] destruction let him fall therein.

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.

9 But my soul shall exult in the Lord: she shall be glad through his salvation.

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

10 All my bones will 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 robbeth him?

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.

11 There rise up witnesses of violence; concerning what I know not they question me.

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

12 They recompense me with evil in place of good, [bringing] bereavement on my soul.

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

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

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

14 As though he had been to me a friend or a brother did I walk about: as one that mourneth for a mother did I sorrowfully bend down my head.

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

15 But in my downfall they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together; there gathered themselves together against me abject wretches, whom I knew not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

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

16 With hypocritical babbling mockers, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

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

17 O Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, from the young lions my solitary spirit.

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

18 I will thank thee in the great assembly: among a mighty people will I praise thee.

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

19 Let not rejoice over me those that are my enemies wrongfully: [nor] let those who hate me without cause wink with the eye.

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

20 For they speak not peace; but against the quiet in the land they devise deceitful words.

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

21 Yea, they opened wide against me their mouth; they said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

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

22 Thou hast seen it, O Lord! remain not silent: O Lord, be not far from me.

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

23 Arouse thyself, and awake to do me justice, my God and my Lord, unto my cause.

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

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

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

25 Let them not say in their heart, Aha, [this is the wish of] our soul: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

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

26 Let those be made ashamed and put to the blush together that rejoice at my mishap; let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify themselves above me.

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.

27 Let those shout, and rejoice, that desire my righteousness: yea, let them say continually, Great is the Lord, who desireth the welfare of his servant.

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.

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

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