Psalm 35

Prayer for Victory

Davidic.

1 Oppose my opponents, Lord;

fight those who fight me. b

2 Take Your shields—large and small—

and come to my aid. c

3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers,

and assure me: “I am your deliverance.” d

4 Let those who seek to kill me

be disgraced and humiliated;

let those who plan to harm me

be turned back and ashamed. e

5 Let them be like chaff in the wind,

with the angel of the Lord driving them away. f

6 Let their way be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. g

7 They hid their net for me without cause;

they dug a pit for me without cause. h

8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly,

and let the net that he hid ensnare him;

let him fall into it—to his ruin. i

9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will delight in His deliverance. j

10 My very bones will say,

“Lord, who is like You, k

rescuing the poor from one too strong for him,

the poor or the needy from one who robs him?” l

11 Malicious witnesses come forward;

they question me about things I do not know. m

12 They repay me evil for good,

making me desolate. n

13 Yet when they were sick,

my clothing was * sackcloth;

I humbled myself with fasting,

and my prayer was genuine. o p

14 I went about grieving as if for my friend or brother;

I was bowed down with grief,

like one mourning a mother. q

15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;

they gathered against me.

Assailants I did not know

tore at me and did not stop. r

16 With godless mockery s

they gnashed their teeth at me. t

17 Lord, how long will You look on? u

Rescue my life from their ravages,

my only one from the young lions. v

18 I will praise You in the great congregation;

I will exalt You among many people. w

19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me;

do not let those who hate me without cause x

look at me maliciously. y

20 For they do not speak in friendly ways,

but contrive deceitful schemes z

against those who live peacefully in the land. a

21 They open their mouths wide against me and say,

“Aha, aha! We saw it!” b c

22 You saw it, Lord; do not be silent.

Lord, do not be far from me. d

23 Wake up and rise to my defense,

to my cause, my God and my Lord! e

24 Vindicate me, Lord my God,

in keeping with Your righteousness,

and do not let them rejoice over me. f

25 Do not let them say in their hearts,

“Aha! Just what we wanted.”

Do not let them say,

“We have swallowed him up!” g

26 Let those who rejoice at my misfortune

be disgraced and humiliated;

let those who exalt themselves over me

be clothed with shame and reproach. h

27 Let those who want my vindication

shout for joy and be glad;

let them continually say,

“The Lord be exalted.

He takes pleasure in His servant’s well-being.” i

28 And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness,

Your praise all day long. j