Psalms 35

1 Contend, Adonai, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

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

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

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, Ha mal'ak Yahweh [The Angel of He sustains breathing] driving them on.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, Adonai’s angel 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.

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

9 My soul shall be joyful in Adonai. It shall rejoice in his yishu'ah ·salvation·.

10 All my bones shall say, “Adonai, 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?”

11 Malicious witnesses come forward. They ask me about things about which I know nothing.

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

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer teshuvah ·completely returned· into my 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.

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

16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

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

18 I will yadah ·extend hands in thankful praise· to you in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.

19 Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.

20 For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

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

22 You have seen it, Adonai. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.

23 Wake up! Rise up to my mishpat ·justice· me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!

24 Vindicate me, Adonai my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.

25 Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

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

27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my upright cause. Yes, let them say continually, “Adonai be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”

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