Psalms 35
1 A psalm of David. Yahweh, work against those who work against me; fight against those who fight against me.
BY DAVID. Strive, YHWH, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,
2 Grab your small shield and large shield; rise up and help me.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,
3 Use your spear and battle ax against those who chase me; say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, “I [am] your salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life be shamed and dishonored. May those who plan to harm me be turned back and confounded.
They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.
5 May they be as chaff before the wind, as the angel of Yahweh drives them away.
They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of YHWH driving away.
6 May their way be dark and slippery, as the angel of Yahweh chases them.
Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of YHWH—their pursuer.
7 Without cause they set their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.
For without cause they hid their net [in] a pit for me, Without cause they dug for my soul.
8 Let destruction overtake them by surprise. Let the net that they have set catch them. Let them fall into it, to their destruction.
Desolation meets him—he does not know, And his net that he hid catches him, He falls into it for desolation.
9 But I will be joyful in Yahweh and rejoice in his salvation.
And my soul is joyful in YHWH, It rejoices in His salvation.
10 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?”
All my bones say, “YHWH, who is like You, Delivering the poor from the [one] stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.”
11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they accuse me falsely.
Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.
12 They repay me evil for good. I am sorrowful.
They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,
13 But, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I fasted for them with my head bowed on my chest.
And I—in their sickness my clothing [is] sackcloth, I have humbled my soul with fastings, And my prayer returns to my bosom.
14 I went about in grief as for my brother; I bent down in mourning as for my mother.
As [if] a friend, as [if] my brother, I habitually walked, As a mourner for a mother, I have bowed down mourning.
15 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.
And they have rejoiced in my halting, And have been gathered together, The strikers were gathered against me, And I have not known, They have torn, and they have not ceased;
16 With no respect at all they mocked me; they grind their teeth at me in rage.
With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing their teeth against me.
17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destructive attacks, my life from the lions.
Lord, how long do You behold? Keep my soul back from their desolations, My only one from young lions.
18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you among many people.
I thank You in a great assembly, I praise You among a mighty people.
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let them carry out their wicked schemes.
Do not let my enemies rejoice over me [with] falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.
20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those in our land who live in peace.
For they do not speak peace, And against the quiet of the land, They devise deceitful words,
21 They open their mouths wide against me; they said, “Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it.”
And they enlarge their mouth against me, They said, “Aha, aha, our eye has seen.”
22 You have seen it, Yahweh, do not be silent; Lord, do not be far from me.
You have seen, O YHWH, Do not be silent, O Lord—do not be far from me,
23 Arouse yourself and awake to my defense; My God and my Lord, defend my cause.
Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.
24 Defend me, Yahweh my God, because of your righteousness; do not let them rejoice over me.
Judge me according to Your righteousness, O YHWH my God, And they do not rejoice over me.
25 Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, we have what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have devoured him.”
They do not say in their heart, “Aha, our desire.” They do not say, “We swallowed him up.”
26 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.
They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me.
27 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.”
They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they continually say, “YHWH is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.”
28 Then I will tell of your justice and praise you all day long.
And my tongue utters Your righteousness, All the day Your praise!
