Psalms 35

1 [By David.] Contend, YHWH, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

A Psalm of David. Strive, O LORD, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me.

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

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

3 Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation."

Draw out also the spear, and the battle-axe, against them that pursue me; say unto my soul: 'I am Thy salvation.'

4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be abashed that devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, YHWH's angel driving them on.

Let them be as chaff before the wind, the angel of the LORD thrusting them.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, YHWH's angel pursuing them.

Let their way be dark and slippery, the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

For without cause have they hid for me the pit, even their net, without cause have they digged for my soul.

8 Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.

Let destruction come upon him unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself; with destruction let him fall therein.

9 My soul shall be joyful in YHWH. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, "YHWH, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?"

All my bones shall 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 spoileth him?'

11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I do not know about.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.

12 They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.

They repay me evil for good; bereavement is come to my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I afflicted my soul with fasting; and my prayer, may it return into mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

I went about as though it had been my friend or my brother; I bowed down mournful, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it. They tore at me, and did not cease.

But when I halt they rejoice, and gather themselves together; the abjects gather themselves together against me, and those whom I know not; they tear me, and cease not;

16 When I tripped, they mocked me relentlessly; they gnashed their teeth at me.

With the profanest mockeries of backbiting they gnash at me with their teeth.

17 YHWH, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, mine only one from the lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.

I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a numerous people.

19 Do not let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause and wink their eyes.

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

20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

For they speak not peace; but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, "Aha. Aha. Our eye has seen it."

Yea, they open their mouth wide against me; they say: 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.'

22 You have seen it, YHWH. Do not keep silent. YHWH, do not be far from me.

Thou hast seen, O LORD; keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

23 Wake up. Rise up to defend me, my God. My Lord, contend for me.

Rouse Thee, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Vindicate me, YHWH my God, according to your righteousness. Do not let them gloat over me.

Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25 Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha. Aha. Our desire." Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up."

Let them not say in their heart: 'Aha, we have our desire'; let them not say: 'We have swallowed him up.'

26 Let them be put to shame and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.

Let them be ashamed and abashed together that rejoice at my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify themselves against me.

27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. And let them say continually, "YHWH be magnified, who delights in the peace of his servant."

Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that delight in my righteousness; yea, let them say continually: 'Magnified be the LORD, who delighteth in the peace of His servant.'

28 My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.

And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day.