Psalms 35
Psalms 35
By David.
Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. Verse 2. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. Verse 3. Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.” Verse 4. Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded. Verse 5. Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh’s angel driving them on. Verse 6. Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh’s angel pursuing them. Verse 7. For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. Verse 8. Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction. Verse 9. My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation. Verse 10. All my bones shall say, “Yahweh, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?” Verse 11. Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about. Verse 12. They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul. Verse 13. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom. Verse 14. I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother. Verse 15. But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease. Verse 16. Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me. Verse 17. Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions. Verse 18. I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people. Verse 19. Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes. Verse 20. For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land. Verse 21. Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!” Verse 22. You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me. Verse 23. Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me! Verse 24. Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me. Verse 25. Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!” Verse 26. Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me. Verse 27. Let those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!” Verse 28. My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.