Psalms 35

Psalm 35

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

A Psalm of David.

1Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;

Fight against those who fight against me.

2Take hold of buckler and shield

And rise up for my help.

3Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me;

Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;

Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.

5Let them be like chaff before the wind,

With the angel of the Lord driving them on.

6Let their way be dark and slippery,

With the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

7For without cause they hid their net for me;

Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him unawares,

And let the net which he hid catch himself;

Into that very destruction let him fall.

9And my soul shall rejoice in the Lord;

It shall exult in His salvation.

10All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You,

Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him,

And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”

11Malicious witnesses rise up;

They ask me of things that I do not know.

12They repay me evil for good,

To the bereavement of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;

I humbled my soul with fasting,

And my prayer kept returning to my bosom.

14I went about as though it were my friend or brother;

I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together;

The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me,

They slandered me without ceasing.

16Like godless jesters at a feast,

They gnashed at me with their teeth.

17Lord, how long will You look on?

Rescue my soul from their ravages,

My only life from the lions.

18I will give You thanks in the great congregation;

I will praise You among a mighty throng.

19Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me;

Nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.

20For they do not speak peace,

But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21They opened their mouth wide against me;

They said, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!”

22You have seen it, O Lord, do not keep silent;

O Lord, do not be far from me.

23Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right

And to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness,

And do not let them rejoice over me.

25Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, our desire!”

Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

26Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress;

Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.

27Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication;

And let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified,

Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.”

28And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness

And Your praise all day long.