PSALM 35
1For David.
Take my part, LORD, against my contesters,
fight those who fight against me.
2Steady the shield and the buckler,
and rise up to my help.
3Unsheathe the spear to the haft
against my pursuers.
4Let them be shamed and disgraced,
who seek my life.
Let them retreat, be abased,
who plot harm against me.
5Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the LORD’s messenger driving.
6May their way be darkness and slippery paths,
with the LORD’s messenger chasing them.
7For unprovoked they set their net-trap for me,
unprovoked they dug a pit for my life.
8Let disaster come upon him unwitting
and the net that he set entrap him.
May he fall into it in disaster.
9But I shall exult in the LORD.
shall be glad in His rescue.
10All my bones say,
“LORD, who is like You?
Saving the poor from one stronger than he
and the poor and the needy from his despoiler.”
11Outrageous witnesses rose,
of things I knew not they asked me.
12They paid me back evil for good—
bereavement for my very self.
13And I, when they were ill, my garment was sackcloth,
I afflicted myself with fasting.
May my own prayer come back to my bosom.
14As for a friend, for a brother,
I went about as though mourning a mother,
in gloom I was bent.
15Yet when I limped, they rejoiced, and they gathered,
they gathered against me,
like strangers, and I did not know.
Their mouths gaped and they were not still.
16With contemptuous mocking chatter
they gnashed their teeth against me.
17O Master, how long will You see it?
Bring back my life from their violence,
from the lions, my very being.
18I shall acclaim You in a great assembly,
in a vast crowd I shall praise You.
19Let not my unprovoked enemies rejoice over me,
let my wanton foes not leer.
20For they do not speak peace
and against the earth’s quiet ones plot words of deceit.
21They open their mouths wide against me.
They say, “Hurrah! Hurrah! Our eyes have seen it.”
22You, LORD, have seen, do not be mute.
My Master, do not keep far from me.
23Rouse Yourself, wake for my cause,
my God and my Master, for my quarrel.
24Judge me by Your justice, LORD my God,
and let them not rejoice over me.
25Let them not say in their heart,
“Hurrah for ourselves.”
Let them not say, “We devoured him.”
26Let them be shamed and abased one and all,
who rejoice in my harm.
Let them don shame and disgrace,
who vaunted over me.
27May they sing glad and rejoice,
who desire justice for me,
and may they always say,
“Great is the LORD
Who desires His servant’s well-being”
28and my tongue will murmur Your justice,
all day long Your praise.