< 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. Strive, O Jehovah, with them that strive with 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 stand up for my help;
3 And draw out the spear, and step in against my pursuers; say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
And draw out the spear, and stop [the way] against my pursuers: say unto my soul, I am thy 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 be put to shame and confounded that seek after my life; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that devise my hurt:
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord cast them forth.
Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of Jehovah drive [them] away;
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 let the angel of Jehovah pursue 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 have they hidden for me their net [in] a pit; without cause they have digged [it] for 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 destruction come upon him unawares, and let his net which he hath hidden catch himself: for destruction let him fall therein.
9 But my soul shall exult in the Lord: she shall be glad through his salvation.
And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it shall rejoice 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, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the afflicted from one stronger than he, yea, the afflicted and the needy from him that spoileth him!
11 There rise up witnesses of violence; concerning what I know not they question me.
Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they lay to my charge things which I know not.
12 They recompense me with evil in place of good, [bringing] bereavement on my soul.
They reward me evil for good, [to] the bereavement of 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 as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I chastened my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine 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 myself as though [he had been] a friend, a brother to me; I bowed down in sadness, as one that mourneth [for] a mother.
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:
But at my halting they rejoiced, and gathered together: the slanderers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:
16 With hypocritical babbling mockers, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
With profane jesters for bread, they have gnashed their teeth against me.
17 O Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, from the young lions my solitary spirit.
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.
18 I will thank thee in the great assembly: among a mighty people will I praise thee.
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people.
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 wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; let them not wink with the eye that hate me without cause.
20 For they speak not peace; but against the quiet in the land they devise deceitful words.
For they speak not peace; and they devise deceitful words against the quiet in the land.
21 Yea, they opened wide against me their mouth; they said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, Aha! aha! our eye hath seen [it].
22 Thou hast seen it, O Lord! remain not silent: O Lord, be not far from me.
Thou hast seen [it], Jehovah: keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Arouse thyself, and awake to do me justice, my God and my Lord, unto my cause.
Stir up thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and Lord!
24 Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice over me.
Judge me, Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over 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 heart, Aha! so would we have it. Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
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 ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine adversity; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves 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 exult and rejoice that delight in my righteousness; and let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness, all the day of thy praise.
And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, [and] of thy praise, all the day.

< Psalms 35 >