Psalms35

¹ Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

² Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.

³ Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.”

⁴ May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.

⁵ May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away;

⁶ may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

⁷ Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,

⁸ may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

⁹ Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.

¹⁰ My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

¹¹ Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.

¹² They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved.

¹³ Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

¹⁴ I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.

¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing.

¹⁶ Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me.

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

¹⁸ I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.

¹⁹ Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.

²⁰ They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.

²¹ They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it.”

²² Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord.

²³ Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.

²⁴ Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God; do not let them gloat over me.

²⁵ Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.

²⁷ May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

²⁸ My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.