Psalm 35:1-14

Amplified Bible

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

A Psalm of David.

35 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
²
Take hold of shield and buckler (^[a]small shield),
And stand up for my help.
³
Draw also the spear and javelin to meet those who pursue me.
Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
⁴
Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life;
Let those be turned back [in defeat] and humiliated who plot evil against me.
⁵
Let them be [blown away] like chaff before the wind [worthless, without substance],
With the angel of the Lord driving them on.
⁶
Let their way be dark and slippery,
With the angel of the Lord pursuing and harassing them.
⁷
For without cause they hid their net for me;
Without cause they dug a pit [of destruction] for my life.
⁸
Let destruction come upon my enemy by surprise;
Let the net he hid for me catch him;
Into that very destruction let him fall.

⁹
Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
¹⁰
All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You,
Who rescues the afflicted from him who is too strong for him [to resist alone],
And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”
¹¹
Malicious witnesses rise up;
They ask me of things that I do not know.
¹²
They repay me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.
¹³
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth (mourning garment);
I humbled my soul with fasting,
And I prayed with my head bowed on my chest.
¹⁴
I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother;
I bowed down in mourning, as one who sorrows for his mother.