Psalm 35:title–28

Of David.

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

fightⁱ against those who fight against me.

²Take up shield^j and armor;

arise^k and come to my aid.^l

³Brandish spear^m and javelin^an

against those who pursue me.

Say to me,

“I am your salvation.^o”

⁴May those who seek my life^p

be disgraced^q and put to shame;^r

may those who plot my ruin

be turned back^s in dismay.

⁵May they be like chaff^t before the wind,

with the angel of the Lord^u driving them away;

⁶may their path be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

⁷Since they hid their net^v for me without cause^w

and without cause dug a pit^x for me,

⁸may ruin overtake them by surprise—^y

may the net they hid entangle them,

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

⁹Then my soul will rejoice^a in the Lord

and delight in his salvation.^b

¹⁰My whole being will exclaim,

“Who is like you,^c Lord?

You rescue the poor from those too strong^d for them,

the poor and needy^e from those who rob them.”

¹¹Ruthless witnesses^f come forward;

they question me on things I know nothing about.

¹²They repay me evil for good^g

and leave me like one bereaved.

¹³Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth^h

and humbled myself with fasting.ⁱ

When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

¹⁴I went about mourning^j

as though for my friend or brother.

I bowed my head in grief

as though weeping for my mother.

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

assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.

They slandered^l me without ceasing.

¹⁶Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;^bm

they gnashed their teethⁿ at me.

¹⁷How long,^o Lord, will you look on?

Rescue me from their ravages,

my precious life^p from these lions.^q

¹⁸I will give you thanks in the great assembly;^r

among the throngs^s I will praise you.^t

¹⁹Do not let those gloat over me

who are my enemies^u without cause;

do not let those who hate me without reason^v

maliciously wink the eye.^w

²⁰They do not speak peaceably,

but devise false accusations^x

against those who live quietly in the land.

²¹They sneer^y at me and say, “Aha! Aha!^z

With our own eyes we have seen it.”

²²Lord, you have seen^a this; do not be silent.

Do not be far^b from me, Lord.

²³Awake,^c and rise^d to my defense!

Contend^e for me, my God and Lord.

²⁴Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;

do not let them gloat^f over me.

²⁵Do not let them think, “Aha,^g just what we wanted!”

or say, “We have swallowed him up.”^h

²⁶May all who gloatⁱ over my distress^j

be put to shame^k and confusion;

may all who exalt themselves over me^l

be clothed with shame and disgrace.

²⁷May those who delight in my vindication^m

shout for joyⁿ and gladness;

may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,

who delights^o in the well-being of his servant.”^p

²⁸My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,^q

your praises all day long.^r