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. Yahweh, work against those who work against me; fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up for my help.
Grab your small shield and large shield; rise up and help me.
3 And draw out the spear, and step in against my pursuers; say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Use your spear and battle ax against those who chase me; say to 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.
May those who seek my life be shamed and dishonored. May those who plan to harm me be turned back and confounded.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord cast them forth.
May they be as chaff before the wind, as the angel of Yahweh drives them away.
6 May their way be dark and slippery: and may the angel of the Lord pursue them.
May their way be dark and slippery, as the angel of Yahweh chases 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.
Without cause they set their net for me; without cause they dug 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.
Let destruction overtake them by surprise. Let the net that they have set catch them. Let them fall into it, to their destruction.
9 But my soul shall exult in the Lord: she shall be glad through his salvation.
But I will be joyful in Yahweh and 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 will say, “Yahweh, who is like you, who rescues the oppressed from those who are too strong for them and the poor and needy from those who try to rob them?”
11 There rise up witnesses of violence; concerning what I know not they question me.
Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they accuse me falsely.
12 They recompense me with evil in place of good, [bringing] bereavement on my soul.
They repay me evil for good. I am sorrowful.
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 wore sackcloth; I fasted for them with my head bowed on my chest.
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 went about in grief as for my brother; I bent down in mourning as for my 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 when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together against me, and I was surprised by them. They tore at me without stopping.
16 With hypocritical babbling mockers, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
With no respect at all they mocked me; they grind their teeth at me in rage.
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 destructive attacks, my life from the lions.
18 I will thank thee in the great assembly: among a mighty people will I praise thee.
Then I will thank you 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 my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let them carry out their wicked schemes.
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 in our land who live in peace.
21 Yea, they opened wide against me their mouth; they said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
They open their mouths wide against me; they said, “Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it.”
22 Thou hast seen it, O Lord! remain not silent: O Lord, be not far from me.
You have seen it, Yahweh, do not be 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.
Arouse yourself and awake to my defense; My God and my Lord, defend my cause.
24 Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice over me.
Defend me, Yahweh my God, because of your righteousness; do not let them 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.
Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, we have what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have devoured him.”
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 be put to shame and may they be confounded who rejoice at my distress. May those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and dishonor.
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 those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad; may they say continually, “Yahweh be praised, he who delights in the welfare of his servant.”
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness, all the day of thy praise.
Then I will tell of your justice and praise you all day long.
