Psalms 35

1 A psalm of David. Yahweh, work against those who work against me; fight against those who fight against me.

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

2 Grab your small shield and large shield; rise up and help me.

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

3 Use your spear and battle ax against those who chase me; say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell 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.

Let those who seek after my soul be put to shame and disgraced. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

5 May they be as chaff before the wind, as the angel of Yahweh drives them away.

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

6 May their way be dark and slippery, as the angel of Yahweh chases them.

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

7 Without cause they set their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.

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 overtake them by surprise. Let the net that they have set catch them. Let them fall into it, to their destruction.

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

9 But I will be joyful in Yahweh and rejoice in his salvation.

My soul shall be joyful in YHWH. It shall rejoice 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 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?"

11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they accuse me falsely.

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

12 They repay me evil for good. I am sorrowful.

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

13 But, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I fasted for them with my head bowed on my chest.

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.

14 I went about in grief as for my brother; I bent down in mourning as for my mother.

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 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.

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.

16 With no respect at all they mocked me; they grind their teeth at me in rage.

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

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

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

18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you among many people.

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

19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let them carry out their wicked schemes.

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.

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, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21 They open their mouths wide against me; they said, “Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it.”

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

22 You have seen it, Yahweh, do not be silent; Lord, do not be far from me.

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

23 Arouse yourself and awake to my defense; My God and my Lord, defend my cause.

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

24 Defend me, Yahweh my God, because of your righteousness; do not let them rejoice over me.

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

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

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.

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.”

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."

28 Then I will tell of your justice and praise you all day long.

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