Psalm 35
Prayer for Victory
Of David.
1 Oppose my opponents, LORD;
fight those who fight me. w
2 Take your shields—large and small—
and come to my aid. x
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers,
and assure me: “I am your deliverance.” y
4 Let those who intend to take my life
be disgraced and humiliated;
let those who plan to harm me
be turned back and ashamed. z
5 Let them be like chaff in the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away. a
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. b
7 They hid their net for me without cause;
they dug a pit for me without cause. c
8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly,
and let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his ruin. d
9 Then I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will delight in his deliverance. e
“LORD, who is like you, f
rescuing the poor from one too strong for him,
the poor or the needy from one who robs him? ” g
11 Malicious witnesses come forward;
they question me about things I do not know. h
12 They repay me evil for good,
making me desolate. i
my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting,
and my prayer was genuine. H,j
14 I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother;
I was bowed down with grief,
like one mourning for a mother. k
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
they gathered against me.
Assailants I did not know
tore at me and did not stop. l
16 With godless mockery I
they gnashed their teeth at me. m
17 Lord, how long will you look on? n
Rescue me from their ravages;
rescue my precious life from the young lions. o
18 I will praise you in the great assembly;
I will exalt you among many people. p
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me;
do not let those who hate me without cause q
wink at me maliciously. r
20 For they do not speak in friendly ways,
but contrive fraudulent schemes J
against those who live peacefully in the land. s
21 They open their mouths wide against me and say,
22 You saw it, LORD; do not be silent.
Lord, do not be far from me. u
23 Wake up and rise to my defense,
to my cause, my God and my Lord! v
in keeping with your righteousness,
and do not let them rejoice over me. w
25 Do not let them say in their hearts,
“Aha! Just what we wanted.”
Do not let them say,
“We have swallowed him up! ” x
26 Let those who rejoice at my misfortune
be disgraced and humiliated;
let those who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and reproach. y
27 Let those who want my vindication
shout for joy and be glad;
let them continually say,
“The LORD be exalted.
He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being.” z
28 And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praise all day long. a