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.” Contend, O LORD! with them that contend 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.
Draw forth the spear and the axe against my persecutors; Say to me, “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.
May they be confounded and put to shame, who seek my life; May they be turned back with disgrace, who devise my hurt!
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord cast them forth.
May they be like dust before the wind; May the angel of the LORD drive them!
6 May their way be dark and slippery: and may the angel of the Lord pursue them.
May their way be dark and slippery, And may the angel of the LORD 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 they have laid for me a snare; Without cause they have digged for me a pit.
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.
May unforeseen destruction come upon them! May the snare which they have laid lay hold on themselves, And may they fall into destruction!
9 But my soul shall exult in the Lord: she shall be glad through his salvation.
Then shall my soul rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in his protection.
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, Who, O LORD! is like thee, Who dost rescue the afflicted from the oppressor, The afflicted and destitute from the spoiler?
11 There rise up witnesses of violence; concerning what I know not they question me.
False witnesses have risen up; They charge me with that which has not entered my mind.
12 They recompense me with evil in place of good, [bringing] bereavement on my soul.
They repay me evil for good; They cause 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.
And yet I, during their sickness, clothed myself with sackcloth, And afflicted myself with fasting; And my prayer was turned to my 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 if he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down in sadness, as one mourning for 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 at my fall they rejoice, and gather themselves together; Revilers whom I know not assemble themselves against me; They tear me without ceasing.
16 With hypocritical babbling mockers, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
With base men who mock for their bread, They gnash at me with their teeth.
17 O Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, from the young lions my solitary spirit.
How long, O LORD! wilt thou look on? O rescue my life from the destruction they plot for me; My precious life from these young lions!
18 I will thank thee in the great assembly: among a mighty people will I praise thee.
I will thank thee in the great assembly! Before a numerous people I will praise thee.
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 my enemies wrongfully triumph over me; Let them not wink with the eye, who 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; They devise deceit against them that are quiet in the land.
21 Yea, they opened wide against me their mouth; they said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
Yea, they open their mouths wide against me; They say, “Aha, aha! our eyes seeth it.”
22 Thou hast seen it, O Lord! remain not silent: O Lord, be not far from me.
Thou seest it, O LORD! be not silent! O LORD! be not far from me!
23 Arouse thyself, and awake to do me justice, my God and my Lord, unto my cause.
Arouse thyself; awake for my defence! My God and my Lord, awake to my cause!
24 Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice over me.
Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Jehovah, my God! Let them not triumph 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 hearts, “Aha! we have our wish!” 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.
May they all be confounded and brought to shame, Who rejoice at my calamity! May they be clothed with ignominy and disgrace, Who exalt 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; Let them ever say, “The LORD be praised, Who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant!”
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness, all the day of thy praise.
So shall my tongue speak of thy righteousness, And daily repeat thy praise.
