Psalms 35
1 By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,
“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 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].'
Draw forth the spear and the axe against my persecutors; Say to me, “I am thy salvation.”
4 They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.
May they be confounded and put to shame, who seek my life; May they be turned back with disgrace, who devise my hurt!
5 They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.
May they be like dust before the wind; May the angel of the LORD drive them!
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 they have laid for me a snare; Without cause they have digged for me a pit.
8 Meet him doth desolation — he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.
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 is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.
Then shall my soul rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in his protection.
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, Who, O LORD! is like thee, Who dost rescue the afflicted from the oppressor, The afflicted and destitute from the spoiler?
11 Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.
False witnesses have risen up; They charge me with that which has not entered my mind.
12 They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,
They repay me evil for good; They cause bereavement to 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.
And yet I, during their sickness, clothed myself with sackcloth, And afflicted myself with fasting; And my prayer was turned to my 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 if he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down in sadness, as 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 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 profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.
With base men who mock for their bread, They gnash at me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.
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 thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.
I will thank thee in the great assembly! Before a numerous people I will praise thee.
19 Mine enemies rejoice not over me [with] falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.
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, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,
For they speak not peace; They devise deceit against them that are quiet in the land.
21 And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'
Yea, they open their mouths wide against me; They say, “Aha, aha! our eyes seeth it.”
22 Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, 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, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.
Arouse thyself; awake for my defence! My God and my Lord, awake to 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 Jehovah, my God! Let them not triumph 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! we have our wish!” 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 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 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; Let them ever say, “The LORD be praised, Who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant!”
28 And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!
So shall my tongue speak of thy righteousness, And daily repeat thy praise.
