35:1  CONTEND, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!

35:2  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help!

35:3  Draw out also the spear and javelin {and} close up the way of those who pursue {and} persecute me. Say to me, I am your deliverance!

35:4  Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek {and} require my life; let them be turned back and confounded who plan my hurt!

35:5  Let them be as chaff before the wind, with the Angel of the Lord driving them on!

35:6  Let their way be through dark and slippery places, with the Angel of the Lord pursuing {and} afflicting them.

35:7  For without cause they hid for me their net; a pit of destruction without cause they dug for my life.

35:8  Let destruction befall [my foe] unawares; let the net he hid for me catch him; let him fall into that very destruction.

35:9  Then I shall be joyful in the Lord; I shall rejoice in His deliverance.

35:10  All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like You, You Who deliver the poor {and} the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him who snatches away his goods?

35:11  Malicious {and} unrighteous witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.

35:12  They reward me evil for good to my personal bereavement.

35:13  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting, and I prayed with head bowed on my breast.

35:14  I behaved as if grieving for my friend {or} my brother; I bowed down in sorrow, as one who bewails his mother.

35:15  But in my stumbling {and} limping they rejoiced and gathered together [against me]; the smiters (slanderers and revilers) gathered against me, and I knew them not; they ceased not to slander {and} revile me.

35:16  Like profane mockers at feasts [making sport for the price of a cake] they gnashed at me with their teeth.

35:17  Lord, how long will You look on [without action]? Rescue my life from their destructions, my dear {and} only life from the lions!

35:18  I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among a mighty throng.

35:19  Let not those who are wrongfully my foes rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye who hate me without cause.

35:20  For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against those who are quiet in the land.

35:21  Yes, they open their mouths wide against me; they say, Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen it!

35:22  You have seen this, O Lord; keep not silence! O Lord, be not far from me!

35:23  Arouse Yourself, awake to the justice due me, even to my cause, my God and my Lord!

35:24  Judge {and} vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness (Your rightness and justice); and let [my foes] not rejoice over me!

35:25  Let them not say in their hearts, Aha, that is what we wanted! Let them not say, We have swallowed him up {and} utterly destroyed him.

35:26  Let them be put to shame and confusion together who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify {and} exalt themselves over me!

35:27  Let those who favor my righteous cause {and} have pleasure in my uprightness shout for joy and be glad and say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.

35:28  And my tongue shall talk of Your righteousness, rightness, {and} justice, and of [my reasons for] Your praise all the day long.