Psalms 35
1 [A Psalm] of David. Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
“A psalm of David.” Contend, O LORD! with them that contend 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 stand up for my help!
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I [am] thy salvation.
Draw forth the spear and the axe against my persecutors; Say to me, “I am thy salvation.”
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
May they be confounded and put to shame, who seek my life; May they be turned back with disgrace, who devise my hurt!
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].
May they be like dust before the wind; May the angel of the LORD drive them!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
May their way be dark and slippery, And may the angel of the LORD pursue them!
7 For without cause they have hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.
For without cause they have laid for me a snare; Without cause they have digged for me a pit.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
May unforeseen destruction come upon them! May the snare which they have laid lay hold on themselves, And may they fall into destruction!
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Then shall my soul rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in his protection.
10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who [is] like thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, even the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
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 False witnesses arose; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.
False witnesses have risen up; They charge me with that which has not entered my mind.
12 They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.
They repay me evil for good; They cause bereavement to my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.
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 behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] 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 in my adversity they rejoiced, and assembled themselves: [yes], the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:
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 hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
With base men who mock for their bread, They gnash at me with their teeth.
17 LORD, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling 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 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among many people.
I will thank thee in the great assembly! Before a numerous people I will praise thee.
19 Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
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 speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land.
For they speak not peace; They devise deceit against them that are quiet in the land.
21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it].
Yea, they open their mouths wide against me; They say, “Aha, aha! our eyes seeth it.”
22 [This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O LORD, be not far from me.
Thou seest it, O LORD! be not silent! O LORD! be not far from me!
23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] to my cause, my God and my LORD.
Arouse thyself; awake for my defence! My God and my Lord, awake to my cause!
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Jehovah, my God! Let them not triumph over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha! we have our wish!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify [themselves] against me.
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 them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yes, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, who hath pleasure in the prosperity 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 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.
So shall my tongue speak of thy righteousness, And daily repeat thy praise.
