Psalm 35
By David.
1 Contend, LORD,
with those who
contend with me.
Fight against those
who fight
against me.
2 Take
hold of shield
and buckler,
and stand up
for my help.
3 Brandish the
spear and block
those who pursue
me.
Tell my soul, “I
am your salvation.”
4 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 Let
them be as
chaff before the
wind,
the LORD’s angel
driving them on.
6 Let
their way be
dark and slippery,
the LORD’s angel
pursuing them.
7 For
without cause they
have hidden their
net in a
pit for me.
Without cause
they have dug
a pit for
my soul.
8 Let
destruction come
on him unawares.
Let his net
that he has
hidden catch
himself.
Let him fall
into that
destruction.
9 My
soul shall be
joyful in the
LORD.
It shall rejoice
in his salvation.
10 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 Unrighteous
witnesses rise up.
They ask me
about things that
I don’t know about.
12 They
reward me evil
for good,
to the bereaving
of my soul.
13 But
as for me,
when they were
sick, my clothing
was sackcloth.
I afflicted my
soul with fasting.
My prayer
returned into my
own bosom.
14 I
behaved myself
as though it had
been my friend
or my brother.
I bowed down
mourning, as one
who mourns his mother.
15 But
in my adversity,
they rejoiced,
and gathered themselves
together.
The attackers gathered themselves
together against
me, and I didn’t
know it.
They tore at
me, and didn’t
cease.
16 Like
the profane mockers
in feasts,
they gnashed
their teeth at
me.
17 Lord, how
long will you
look on?
Rescue my soul
from their
destruction,
my precious life
from the lions.
18 I
will give you
thanks in the
great assembly.
I will praise
you among many
people.
19 Don’t let
those who are
my enemies
wrongfully rejoice
over me;
neither let those
who hate me
without a cause
wink their eyes.
20 For
they don’t speak
peace,
but they devise
deceitful words
against those who
are quiet in
the land.
21 Yes,
they opened their
mouth wide against
me.
They said, “Aha!
Aha! Our eye
has seen it!”
22 You
have seen it,
LORD. Don’t keep
silent.
Lord, don’t be
far from me.
23 Wake
up! Rise up to
defend me, my God!
My Lord, contend
for me!
24 Vindicate
me, LORD my
God, according to
your righteousness.
Don’t let them
gloat over me.
25 Don’t let
them say in their
heart, “Aha! That’s
the way we want
it!”
Don’t let them say, “We
have swallowed him
up!”
26 Let
them be disappointed
and confounded
together who
rejoice at my
calamity.
Let them be
clothed with shame
and dishonor who
magnify themselves
against me.
27 Let those
who favor my
righteous cause
shout for joy
and be glad.
Yes, let them say
continually, “May
the LORD be
magnified,
who has pleasure
in the prosperity
of his servant!”
28 My
tongue shall talk
about your
righteousness and
about your praise
all day long.