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. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive 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 out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul, 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.

Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise 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: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

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

Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute 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 hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have dug 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 upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

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

And 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 thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, even the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

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

False witnesses arose; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

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

They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling 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 humbled 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 he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth 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 in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the smiters gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

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

With hypocritical mockers in feasts, 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.

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

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

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee 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.

Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

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

For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters 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 opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

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

This thou hast seen, 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.

Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

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

Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; 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 hearts, Ah, so would we have it: 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 be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that 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, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

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

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.