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Psalm 35

A Psalm of David.

Plead my cause, O Lord, with my adversaries;
    fight those who fight me.
Take hold of the large shield and small shield,
    and rise up for my help.
Draw the spear and javelin
    against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
    “I am Your salvation.”

May those who seek my life
    be ashamed and humiliated;
may those who plan my injury
    be turned back and put to shame.
May they be as chaff before the wind,
    and may the angel of the Lord cast them down.
May their way be dark and slippery,
    and may the angel of the Lord pursue them.

For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,
    which they have dug without cause for my soul.
Let destruction come on him without warning,
    and let the net that he hid ensnare him;
    let him fall into it, to his destruction.
My soul will be joyful in the Lord;
    it will rejoice in His salvation.
10 All my bones will say,
    Lord, who is like You,
who delivers the poor from a stronger one,
    the poor and the needy from the one who robs them?”

11 Witnesses intent on violence rose up;
    they accused me of things I knew nothing about.
12 They rewarded me evil for good,
    the bereavement of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
    I humbled my soul with fasting;
and my prayer returns to my own heart.
14 I paced as though he were my friend or brother;
    I bowed down lamenting,
    as one who mourns for a mother.
15 But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together;
    assailants gathered together against me, though I was unaware;
    they tore me apart and did not stop;
16 with hypocritical mockers in feasts,
    they gnashed on me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long will You look on?
    Rescue my soul from their destructions,
    my life from the lions.
18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation;
    I will praise You among a mighty people.
19 May my deceitful enemies
    not rejoice over me;
nor may those who hate me without cause
    wink with their eye.
20 For they do not speak peace,
    but they devise deceitful matters
    against the restful ones in the land.
21 They opened their mouth wide against me,
    and said, “Aha, aha, our eye has seen it.”

22 This You have seen, O Lord; do not be silent;
    O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Rouse Yourself and awake for my judgment,
    for my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness,
    and may they not rejoice over me.
25 May they not say in their hearts, “Ah, we have our soul’s desire.”
    May they not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26 May those who rejoice at my harm be ashamed
    and altogether put to shame;
may they be clothed with shame and dishonor
    who magnify themselves against me.
27 May those who favor my righteous cause
    shout for joy and be glad;
may they say continually, “The Lord be magnified,
    who delights in the peace of His servant.”

28 My tongue will speak of Your righteousness
    and of Your praise all the day long.

The Lord the Avenger of His People

A Psalm of David.

35 Plead[a] my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
Take hold of shield and [b]buckler,
And stand up for my help.
Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”

(A)Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor
Who seek after my life;
Let those be (B)turned back and brought to confusion
Who plot my hurt.
(C)Let them be like chaff before the wind,
And let the [c]angel of the Lord chase them.
Let their way be (D)dark and slippery,
And let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
For without cause they have (E)hidden their net for me in a pit,
Which they have dug without cause for my life.
[d]Let (F)destruction come upon him unexpectedly,
And let his net that he has hidden catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
10 (G)All my bones shall say,
Lord, (H)who is like You,
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

11 Fierce witnesses rise up;
They ask me things that I do not know.
12 (I)They reward me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.
13 But as for me, (J)when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own [e]heart.
14 I paced about as though he were my friend or brother;
I bowed down [f]heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.

15 But in my [g]adversity they rejoiced
And gathered together;
Attackers gathered against me,
And I did not know it;
They tore at me and did not cease;
16 With ungodly mockers at feasts
They gnashed at me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long will You (K)look on?
Rescue me from their destructions,
My precious life from the lions.
18 I will give You thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise You among [h]many people.

19 (L)Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies;
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
20 For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful matters
Against the quiet ones in the land.
21 They also opened their mouth wide against me,
And said, “Aha, aha!
Our eyes have seen it.

22 This You have seen, O Lord;
Do not keep silence.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
23 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
To my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be (M)clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.

27 (N)Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the Lord be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:1 Contend for me
  2. Psalm 35:2 A small shield
  3. Psalm 35:5 Or Angel
  4. Psalm 35:8 Lit. Let destruction he does not know come upon him,
  5. Psalm 35:13 Lit. bosom
  6. Psalm 35:14 in mourning
  7. Psalm 35:15 limping, stumbling
  8. Psalm 35:18 a mighty