Psalm 35:1–16

1 Contend,h Lord, with those who contend with me;

fighti against those who fight against me.

2 Take up shieldj and armor;

arisek and come to my aid.l

3 Brandish spearm and javelina n

against those who pursue me.

Say to me,

“I am your salvation.o”

4 May those who seek my lifep

be disgracedq and put to shame;r

may those who plot my ruin

be turned backs in dismay.

5 May they be like chafft before the wind,

with the angel of the Lordu driving them away;

6 may their path be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

7 Since they hid their netv for me without causew

and without cause dug a pitx for me,

8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—y

may the net they hid entangle them,

may they fall into the pit,z to their ruin.

9 Then my soul will rejoicea in the Lord

and delight in his salvation.b

10 My whole being will exclaim,

“Who is like you,c Lord?

You rescue the poor from those too strongd for them,

the poor and needye from those who rob them.”

11 Ruthless witnessesf come forward;

they question me on things I know nothing about.

12 They repay me evil for goodg

and leave me like one bereaved.

13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackclothh

and humbled myself with fasting.i

When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

14 I went about mourningj

as though for my friend or brother.

I bowed my head in grief

as though weeping for my mother.

15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;k

assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.

They slanderedl me without ceasing.

16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;b m

they gnashed their teethn at me.