Psalms 35
1 “Of David.” Contend, O Lord, with those that contend with me: fight against those that fight against me.
Of David. Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me, do battle with those who do battle with me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up for my help.
Grasp shield and buckler, and rise up as my help.
3 And draw out the spear, and step in against my pursuers; say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Draw spear and battle-axe, confront those who pursue me. Assure me that you will help me.
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.
Dishonor and shame be on those who are seeking my life! Defeat and confusion on those who are planning my hurt!
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord cast them forth.
As chaff before wind may they be, with the Lord’s angel pursuing them.
6 May their way be dark and slippery: and may the angel of the Lord pursue them.
Slippery and dark be their way, with his angel thrusting them on.
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 they wantonly hid their net for me, and dug a pit to destroy me.
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.
Upon them may ruin come unawares; may the net which they hid catch themselves, and into the pit may they fall.
9 But my soul shall exult in the Lord: she shall be glad through his salvation.
Then I will exult in the Lord, and be joyful because of his help;
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?
and all my being will say, “Who, O Lord, is like you, who save the helpless from those too strong for them, the poor and the helpless from those who despoil them?”
11 There rise up witnesses of violence; concerning what I know not they question me.
Violent witnesses rise, and ask of me things that I know not.
12 They recompense me with evil in place of good, [bringing] bereavement on my soul.
Evil for good they requite me, leaving me inwardly comfortless.
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 when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and chastened myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed low,
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.
as if for my friend or my brother. I went about bowed and in mourning, as one who laments 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:
When I stumbled, they gleefully gathered, strangers gathered around me, and tore at me without ceasing,
16 With hypocritical babbling mockers, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
impiously mocking and mocking, bearing 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.
How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their roaring, 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 then give you thanks in the great congregation, and praise you before 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.
Suffer not those to rejoice over me who are falsely my foes, suffer not those who without cause abhor me to wink with the eye.
20 For they speak not peace; but against the quiet in the land they devise deceitful words.
For it is not peace that they speak of those who are quiet in the land; but treacherous charges they plot.
21 Yea, they opened wide against me their mouth; they said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
With wide open mouths they shout, “Hurrah! Hurrah! With our own eyes we saw it.”
22 Thou hast seen it, O Lord! remain not silent: O Lord, be not far from me.
But you have seen, too, O Lord, 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.
Bestir you, awake, for my right my God, my Lord, for my cause.
24 Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice over me.
You are just, Lord: win for me justice, 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.
inwardly saying, “Hurrah! The desire of our hearts at last! Now 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.
Shame and confusion together on those who rejoice at my hurt! Clothed with shame and dishonor be those who are haughty to 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 such as delight in my cause ring out their gladness, and say evermore, “Great is the Lord whose delight is the well-being of his servant.”
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness, all the day of thy praise.
Then my tongue will tell of your justice, and all the day long of your praise.
