Psalms 35
Psalm 351
By David.
35:1 O Lord, fight2 those who fight with me!
Attack those who attack me!
35:2 Grab your small shield and large shield,3
and rise up to help me!
35:3 Use your spear and lance4 against5 those who chase me!
Assure me with these words:6 “I am your deliverer!”
35:4 May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated!
May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed!7
35:5 May they be8 like wind-driven chaff,
as the Lord’s angel9 attacks them!10
35:6 May their path be11 dark and slippery,
as the Lord’s angel chases them!
35:7 I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me
and dug a pit to trap me.12
35:8 Let destruction take them by surprise!13
Let the net they hid catch them!
Let them fall into destruction!14
35:9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord
and be happy because of his deliverance.15
35:10 With all my strength I will say,16
“O Lord, who can compare to you?
You rescue17 the oppressed from those who try to overpower them;18
the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.”19
35:11 Violent men perjure themselves,20
and falsely accuse me.21
35:12 They repay me evil for the good I have done;22
I am overwhelmed with sorrow.23
35:13 When they were sick, I wore sackcloth,24
and refrained from eating food.25
(If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!)26
35:14 I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother.27
I bowed down28 in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother.29
35:15 But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together;
they gathered together to ambush me.30
They tore at me without stopping to rest.31
35:16 When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly,32
and tried to bite me.33
35:17 O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this?34
Rescue35 me36 from their destructive attacks;
guard my life37 from the young lions!
35:18 Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly;38
I will praise you before a large crowd of people!39
35:19 Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason40 gloat41 over me!
Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes!42
35:20 For they do not try to make peace with others,43
but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.44
35:21 They are ready to devour me;45
they say, “Aha! Aha! We’ve got you!”46
35:22 But you take notice,47 Lord!
O Lord, do not remain far away from me!
35:23 Rouse yourself, wake up48 and vindicate me!49
My God and Lord, defend my just cause!50
35:24 Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God!
Do not let them gloat51 over me!
35:25 Do not let them say to themselves,52 “Aha! We have what we wanted!”53
Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!”
35:26 May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed!54
May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation!55
35:27 May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice!
May they continually say,56 “May the Lord be praised,57 for he wants his servant to be secure.”58
35:28 Then I will tell others about your justice,59
and praise you all day long.60