¹ By David. Contend, Jehovah, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

² Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

³ Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation."

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.

⁵ Let them be as chaff before the wind, Jehovah's angel driving them on.

⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery, Jehovah's angel pursuing them.

⁷ For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

⁸ Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.

⁹ My soul shall be joyful in Jehovah. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

¹⁰ All my bones shall say, "Jehovah, 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?"

¹¹ Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I do not know about.

¹² They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.

¹³ But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

¹⁴ I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

¹⁵ But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it. They tore at me, and did not cease.

¹⁶ Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

¹⁷ Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

¹⁸ I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.

¹⁹ Do not let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause¹ and wink their eyes.

1. 35:19 John 15:25

²⁰ For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

²¹ Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, "Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!"

²² You have seen it, Jehovah. Do not keep silent. Lord,¹ do not be far from me.

1. 35:22 DSS ms reads "Jehovah"

²³ Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!

²⁴ Vindicate me, Jehovah my God, according to your righteousness. Do not let them gloat over me.

²⁵ Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha! That's the way we want it!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"

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.

²⁷ Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, "Jehovah be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!"

²⁸ My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.