Psalm 35–36

¹By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,

²Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,

³And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, ‘Thy salvation I am.’

⁴They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.

⁵They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.

⁶Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.

⁷For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.

⁸Meet him doth desolation—he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

⁹And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.

¹⁰All my bones say, ‘Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.’

¹¹Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.

¹²They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,

¹³And I—in their sickness my clothing is sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.

¹⁴As if a friend, as if my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.

¹⁵And—in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;

¹⁶With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.

¹⁷Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.

¹⁸I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.

¹⁹Mine enemies rejoice not over me with falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.

²⁰For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,

²¹And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, ‘Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.’

²²Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord—be not far from me,

²³Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.

²⁴Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.

²⁵They do not say in their heart, ‘Aha, our desire.’ They do not say, ‘We swallowed him up.’

²⁶They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me.

²⁷They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, ‘Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.’

²⁸And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!

Psalm 36

¹To the Overseer.—By a servant of Jehovah, by David. The transgression of the wicked Is affirming within my heart, ‘Fear of God is not before his eyes,

²For he made it smooth to himself in his eyes, To find his iniquity to be hated.

³The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit, He ceased to act prudently—to do good.

⁴Iniquity he deviseth on his bed, He stationeth himself on a way not good, Evil he doth not refuse.’

⁵O Jehovah, in the heavens is Thy kindness, Thy faithfulness is unto the clouds.

⁶Thy righteousness is as mountains of God, Thy judgments are a great deep. Man and beast Thou savest, O Jehovah.

⁷How precious is Thy kindness, O God, And the sons of men In the shadow of Thy wings do trust.

⁸They are filled from the fatness of Thy house, And the stream of Thy delights Thou dost cause them to drink.

⁹For with Thee is a fountain of life, In Thy light we see light.

¹⁰Draw out Thy kindness to those knowing Thee, And Thy righteousness to the upright of heart.

¹¹Let not a foot of pride meet me, And a hand of the wicked let not move me.

¹²There have workers of iniquity fallen, They have been overthrown, And have not been able to arise!

Psalm 37