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.

By David. Contend, LORD, 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.

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.

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

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: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].

Let them be as chaff before the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

Let their way be dark and slippery, the LORD’s angel pursuing 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 hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

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.

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

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

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, “LORD, 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 False witnesses arose; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.

12 They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.

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 humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own 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 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 assembled themselves: [yes], the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:

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 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

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

17 LORD, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

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

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among many people.

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

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.

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 speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land.

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, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it].

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

22 [This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O LORD, be not far from me.

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

23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] to my cause, my God and my LORD.

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

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

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

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 ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify [themselves] against me.

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, 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 those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”

28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.

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