Psalm 35

Psalm 35

Of David.

Contend,^a Lord, with those who contend with me;

fight^b against those who fight against me.

Take up shield^c and armor;

arise^d and come to my aid.^e

Brandish spear^f and javelin^g

against those who pursue me.

Say to me,

“I am your salvation.^h”

May those who seek my lifeⁱ

be disgraced^j and put to shame;^k

may those who plot my ruin

be turned back^l in dismay.

May they be like chaff^m before the wind,

with the angel of the Lordⁿ driving them away;

may their path be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

Since they hid their net^o for me without cause^p

and without cause dug a pit^q for me,

may ruin overtake them by surprise—^r

may the net they hid entangle them,

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

Then my soul will rejoice^t in the Lord

and delight in his salvation.^u

My whole being will exclaim,

“Who is like you,^v Lord?

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

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

Ruthless witnesses^y come forward;

they question me on things I know nothing about.

They repay me evil for good^z

and leave me like one bereaved.

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth^a

and humbled myself with fasting.^b

When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

I went about mourning^c

as though for my friend or brother.

I bowed my head in grief

as though weeping for my mother.

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;^d

assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.

They slandered^e me without ceasing.

Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;^f

they gnashed their teeth^g at me.

How long,^h Lord, will you look on?

Rescue me from their ravages,

my precious lifeⁱ from these lions.^j

I will give you thanks in the great assembly;^k

among the throngs^l I will praise you.^m

Do not let those gloat over me

who are my enemiesⁿ without cause;

do not let those who hate me without reason^o

maliciously wink the eye.^p

They do not speak peaceably,

but devise false accusations^q

against those who live quietly in the land.

They sneer^r at me and say, “Aha! Aha!^s

With our own eyes we have seen it.”

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

Do not be far^u from me, Lord.

Awake,^v and rise^w to my defense!

Contend^x for me, my God and Lord.

Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;

do not let them gloat^y over me.

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

or say, “We have swallowed him up.”^a

May all who gloat^b over my distress^c

be put to shame^d and confusion;

may all who exalt themselves over me^e

be clothed with shame and disgrace.

May those who delight in my vindication^f

shout for joy^g and gladness;

may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,

who delights^h in the well-being of his servant.”ⁱ

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,^j

your praises all day long.^k