Psalms 35

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

Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell 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 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 chaff before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord cast them forth.

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

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

Let their way be dark and slippery, The LORD's angel pursuing 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 hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit 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 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: she shall be glad through his salvation.

My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. 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, "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 There rise up witnesses of violence; concerning what I know not they question me.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I do not know about.

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

They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving 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 afflicted my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into 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 myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his 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 in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it. They tore at me, and did not cease.

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

When I tripped, they mocked me relentlessly; they gnashed their teeth at 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 will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

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

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

Do not let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause and wink their eyes.

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

For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

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

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

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

You have seen it, LORD. Do not keep silent. LORD, do not be far from me.

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

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

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

Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Do not let them gloat 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.

Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha. Aha. Our desire." Do not let them 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 put to shame and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who 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 shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, who delights in the peace of his servant."

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

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