35:1 A Psalm of David. 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 Also draw out the spear and the lance against those who pursue me; say to my soul, "I am your salvation." |
35:4 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion, those who seek after my soul; let them be turned back and humiliated, those who devise evil against me. |
35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind; and let the angel of the LORD drive them away. |
35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery; and let the angel of the LORD pursue them; |
35:7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me; without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. |
35:8 Let destruction come upon him in a time he will not know; and let his net which he has concealed catch him, let him fall into destruction. |
35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation. |
35:10 All my bones shall say, "O LORD, Who is like You, who delivers the poor from him stronger than he; yea, even the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?" |
35:11 Cruel witnesses rose up; they asked me of things that I knew nothing about. |
35:12 They rewarded me evil for good, bereaving my soul. |
35:13 But when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom. |
35:14 I went about as though it were a friend or brother; I bowed down as one mourning for his mother. |
35:15 But in my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; the attackers whom I did not know gathered themselves against me. They slandered without ceasing. |
35:16 As profane mockers, they gnashed at me with their teeth. |
35:17 O LORD, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from the lions. |
35:18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng. |
35:19 Let not those who are my enemies without cause rejoice over me; let not those who hate me wink the eye, |
35:20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful things against those who are quiet in the land. |
35:21 And they open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it." |
35:22 You have seen, O LORD; do not keep silence; O LORD, do not be far from me. |
35:23 Stir up Yourself and awaken to my defense, even to my cause, my God and my Lord. |
35:24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; and do not let them rejoice over me. |
35:25 Do not let them say in their hearts, "Aha! We have our desire!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up." |
35:26 May those who rejoice at my distress be altogether ashamed and humiliated; let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me. |
35:27 Let those who delight in my vindication be jubilant and rejoice; and let them say without ceasing, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the peace of His servant." |
35:28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long. |