Psalm 35

Of David.

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

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

³ Brandish spear and javelin ^[a]
against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“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, O 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 my soul forlorn.

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;
attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.

¹⁶ Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked ^[b] ;
they gnashed their teeth at me.

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

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

¹⁹ Let not those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
let not 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 gape at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it.”

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

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

²⁴ Vindicate me in your righteousness, O 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 speak of your righteousness
and of your praises all day long.