Psalms 35

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

[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 rise for my help,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let their way be dark and slippery, The LORD's angel pursuing them.

7 For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they 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 Meet him doth desolation — he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

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 is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.

My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice 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 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 Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I do not know about.

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

They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving 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.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting; 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.

I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns 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 in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it. They tore at me, and did not cease.

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

When I tripped, they mocked me relentlessly; 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.

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

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

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.

Do not let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause and wink their eyes.

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 words against those who are quiet in the land.

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

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

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

You have seen it, LORD. Do not keep silent. LORD, do not be far from me.

23 Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.

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

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

Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. 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.'

Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha. Aha. Our desire." Do not let them 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 them be put to shame and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against 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 them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, who delights in the peace of his servant."

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

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