Psalms 35
1 A psalm of David. Yahweh, work against those who work against me; fight against those who fight against me.
“A psalm of David.” Contend, O LORD! with them that contend with me! Fight against them that 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.”
Draw forth the spear and the axe against my persecutors; Say to me, “I am thy salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life be shamed and dishonored. May those who plan to harm me be turned back and confounded.
May they be confounded and put to shame, who seek my life; May they be turned back with disgrace, who devise my hurt!
5 May they be as chaff before the wind, as the angel of Yahweh drives them away.
May they be like dust before the wind; May the angel of the LORD drive them!
6 May their way be dark and slippery, as the angel of Yahweh chases them.
May their way be dark and slippery, And may the angel of the LORD pursue them!
7 Without cause they set their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.
For without cause they have laid for me a snare; Without cause they have digged for me a pit.
8 Let destruction overtake them by surprise. Let the net that they have set catch them. Let them fall into it, to their destruction.
May unforeseen destruction come upon them! May the snare which they have laid lay hold on themselves, And may they fall into destruction!
9 But I will be joyful in Yahweh and rejoice in his salvation.
Then shall my soul rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in his protection.
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, Who, O LORD! is like thee, Who dost rescue the afflicted from the oppressor, The afflicted and destitute from the spoiler?
11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they accuse me falsely.
False witnesses have risen up; They charge me with that which has not entered my mind.
12 They repay me evil for good. I am sorrowful.
They repay me evil for good; They cause bereavement to my soul.
13 But, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I fasted for them with my head bowed on my chest.
And yet I, during their sickness, clothed myself with sackcloth, And afflicted myself with fasting; And my prayer was turned to my bosom.
14 I went about in grief as for my brother; I bent down in mourning as for my mother.
I behaved myself as if he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down in sadness, as one mourning for 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 at my fall they rejoice, and gather themselves together; Revilers whom I know not assemble themselves against me; They tear me without ceasing.
16 With no respect at all they mocked me; they grind their teeth at me in rage.
With base men who mock for their bread, They gnash at me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destructive attacks, my life from the lions.
How long, O LORD! wilt thou look on? O rescue my life from the destruction they plot for me; My precious life from these young lions!
18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you among many people.
I will thank thee in the great assembly! Before a numerous people I will praise thee.
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let them carry out their wicked schemes.
Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully triumph over me; Let them not wink with the eye, who hate me without cause!
20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those in our land who live in peace.
For they speak not peace; They devise deceit against them that are quiet in the land.
21 They open their mouths wide against me; they said, “Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it.”
Yea, they open their mouths wide against me; They say, “Aha, aha! our eyes seeth it.”
22 You have seen it, Yahweh, do not be silent; Lord, do not be far from me.
Thou seest it, O LORD! be not silent! O LORD! be not far from me!
23 Arouse yourself and awake to my defense; My God and my Lord, defend my cause.
Arouse thyself; awake for my defence! My God and my Lord, awake to my cause!
24 Defend me, Yahweh my God, because of your righteousness; do not let them rejoice over me.
Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Jehovah, my God! Let them not triumph 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.”
Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha! we have our wish!” Let them not 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.
May they all be confounded and brought to shame, Who rejoice at my calamity! May they be clothed with ignominy and disgrace, Who exalt 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; Let them ever say, “The LORD be praised, Who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant!”
28 Then I will tell of your justice and praise you all day long.
So shall my tongue speak of thy righteousness, And daily repeat thy praise.
