Psalms 35

1 By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,

“Of David.” Contend, O Lord, with those that contend with me: fight against those that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,

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

3 And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, 'Thy salvation I [am].'

And draw out the spear, and step in against my pursuers; say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.

Let those be put to shame and be confounded that seek after my life: let those be turned backward and be made to blush, that devise unhappiness for me.

5 They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.

Let them be as chaff before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord cast them forth.

6 Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.

May their way be dark and slippery: and may the angel of the Lord pursue them.

7 For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.

For without cause have they hidden for me their net in a pit, without cause have they dug [pit-falls] against my life.

8 Meet him doth desolation — he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

May then destruction come upon each of them at unawares; and may his net that he hath hidden catch himself: in [utter] destruction let him fall therein.

9 And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.

But my soul shall exult in the Lord: she shall be glad through 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 say, Lord, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that robbeth him?

11 Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.

There rise up witnesses of violence; concerning what I know not they question me.

12 They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,

They recompense me with evil in place of good, [bringing] bereavement on 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.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted with fasting my soul, and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

14 As [if] a friend, as [if] my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.

As though he had been to me a friend or a brother did I walk about: as one that mourneth for a mother did I sorrowfully bend down my head.

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 in my downfall they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together; there gathered themselves together against me abject wretches, whom I knew not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.

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

17 Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.

O Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, from the young lions my solitary spirit.

18 I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.

I will thank thee in the great assembly: among a mighty people will I praise thee.

19 Mine enemies rejoice not over me [with] falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.

Let not rejoice over me those that are my enemies wrongfully: [nor] let those who hate me without cause wink with the eye.

20 For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,

For they speak not peace; but against the quiet in the land they devise deceitful words.

21 And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'

Yea, they opened wide against me their mouth; they said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22 Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord — be not far from me,

Thou hast seen it, O Lord! remain 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.

Arouse thyself, and awake to do me justice, my God and my Lord, unto my cause.

24 Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.

Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; and let them not rejoice 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 heart, Aha, [this is the wish of] our soul: 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.

Let those be made ashamed and put to the blush together that rejoice at my mishap; let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify themselves above me.

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.'

Let those shout, and rejoice, that desire my righteousness: yea, let them say continually, Great is the Lord, who desireth the welfare of his servant.

28 And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness, all the day of thy praise.