Psalms 35

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

David’s. Contend, O Yahweh, with them who contend with me, Make war upon them who make war upon me.

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

Grasp buckler and shield, and arise in my help;

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

Then draw the spear, and close up against my pursuers, Say to my soul, Thy salvation, I am!

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 ashamed and confounded, who are seeking my life, —Let them turn back and be put to the blush, who are devising 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, with, the messenger of Yahweh, pressing them on:

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

Let their way become dark and slippery, with, the messenger of Yahweh, 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, have they hid for me, in a ditch, their net, —Without cause, have they digged [a pit] for my life.

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.

There shall reach him a ruin he could not know, —Yea, his own net which he hath hidden, shall capture him, Into that ruin, shall he fall!

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

But, my soul, shall exult in Yahweh, —shall be glad 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 Yahweh, who is like unto thee? Rescuing the oppressed from one stronger than he, Yea the oppressed and the needy, from their spoiler.

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

There rise up witnesses helping forward violence and wrong, What I know not, they demand of me:

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

They repay me evil for good, Bereaving 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 humbled, with fasting, my soul, though, my prayer, unto mine own bosom, might return:

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.

Like as for a friend, like as for a brother of mine own, I walked to and fro, As though mourning for a mother, I gloomily bowed myself down.

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 mine overthrow, have they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together, —There gathered themselves together against me foolish men, and I knew it not, They have torn in pieces, and not been silent;

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

Amidst profane praters of perversion, have they gnashed upon 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.

My Lord! how long wilt thou look on? Bring back my soul out of their raging, from among lions, my solitary self.

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

I will thank thee, in the midst of a great convocation, —In the midst of a mighty people, will I 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 who are falsely my foes rejoice over me, As for them who hate me without cause, let them not wink the eye!

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

For, no salvation, will they utter, —But, against the quiet of the land, deceitful things, do they devise;

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

Yea they have opened wide against me their mouth, They have said, Aha! Aha! our own eye, hath seen!

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

Thou hast seen, O Yahweh, do not keep silence! O My Lord! be not far from me:

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

Bestir thyself and wake up, to my vindication, O my God and My Lord!—to my plea:

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

Vindicate me according to thy righteousness, O Yahweh, my God! 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! to our mind! 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 turn pale, and then at once blush, who are rejoicing at my misfortune, —Let them be clothed with shame and confusion, who are magnifying 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 in triumph and rejoice, who are desiring my justification; And let them say continually, Yahweh be magnified, Who hath taken pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

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

Mine own tongue also, shall softly utter thy righteousness, —All the day long, —thy praise!