Psalm 35

Of David.

¹ Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me, do battle with those who do battle with me.

³ Grasp shield and buckler, and rise up as my help. Draw spear and battle-axe, confront those who pursue me. Assure me that you will help me.

⁴ Dishonour and shame be on those who are seeking my life! Defeat and confusion on those who are planning my hurt!

⁵ As chaff before wind may they be, with the Lord’s angel pursuing them.

⁶ Slippery and dark be their way, with his angel thrusting them on.

⁷ For they wantonly hid their net for me, and dug a pit to destroy me.

⁸ Upon them may ruin come unawares; may the net which they hid catch themselves, and into the pit may they fall.

⁹ Then I will exult in the Lord, and be joyful because of his help;

¹⁰ and all my being will say, “Who, O Lord, is like you, who save the helpless from those too strong for them, the poor and the helpless from those who despoil them?”

¹¹ Violent witnesses rise, and ask of me things that I know not.

¹² Evil for good they requite me, leaving me inwardly comfortless.

¹³ But when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and chastened myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed low,

¹⁴ as if for my friend or my brother. I went about bowed and in mourning, as one who laments his mother.

¹⁵ When I stumbled, they gleefully gathered, strangers gathered around me, and tore at me without ceasing,

¹⁶ impiously mocking and mocking, bearing their teeth at me.

¹⁷ How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their roaring, my precious life from the lions.

¹⁸ I will then give you thanks in the great congregation, and praise you before many people.

¹⁹ Suffer not those to rejoice over me who are falsely my foes, suffer not those who without cause abhor me to wink with the eye.

²⁰ For it is not peace that they speak of those who are quiet in the land; but treacherous charges they plot.

²¹ With wide open mouths they shout, “Hurrah! Hurrah! With our own eyes we saw it.”

²² But you have seen, too, O Lord, keep not silence, O Lord, be not far from me.

²³ Bestir you, awake, for my right my God, my Lord, for my cause.

²⁴ You are just, Lord: win for me justice, let them not rejoice over me,

²⁵ inwardly saying, “Hurrah! The desire of our hearts at last! Now we have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Shame and confusion together on those who rejoice at my hurt! Clothed with shame and dishonour be those who are haughty to me!

²⁷ Let such as delight in my cause ring out their gladness, and say evermore, “Great is the Lord whose delight is the well-being of his servant.”

²⁸ Then my tongue will tell of your justice, and all the day long of your praise.