Psalms 35
1 By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,
Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,
Take up Your shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
3 And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, 'Thy salvation I [am].'
Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
4 They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.
May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
5 They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.
May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away.
6 Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.
May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues.
7 For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.
For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Meet him doth desolation — he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.
May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.
9 And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.
10 All my bones say, 'Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.'
All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”
11 Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.
Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.
12 They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,
They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.
13 And I — in their sickness my clothing [is] sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.
14 As [if] a friend, as [if] my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.
I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.
15 And — in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;
But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
16 With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.
Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.
How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
18 I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.
Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.
19 Mine enemies rejoice not over me [with] falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.
Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
20 For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,
For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.
21 And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'
They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”
22 Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord — be not far from me,
O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.
Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.
Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.
25 They do not say in their heart, 'Aha, our desire.' They do not say, 'We swallowed him up.'
Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26 They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me.
May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.
27 They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, 'Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.'
May those who favor my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in His servant’s well-being.”
28 And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!
Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness and Your praises all day long.
