Psalms — Chapter 35

1Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.

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

3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”

4May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

5May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away.

6May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues.

7For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.

8May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.

9Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.

10All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”

11Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

12They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.

13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

14I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.

15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.

16Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.

17How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.

18Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.

19Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.

20For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.

21They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”

22O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.

23Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!

24Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.

25Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”

26May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.

27May those who favor my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in His servant’s well-being.”

28Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness and Your praises all day long.

1Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.

6Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

1Strive thou, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me: Fight thou against them that fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help.

3Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that pursue me: Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4Let them be put to shame and brought to dishonor that seek after my soul: Let them be turned back and confounded that devise my hurt.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind, And the angel of Jehovah driving [them] on.

6Let their way be dark and slippery, And the angel of Jehovah pursuing them.

7For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit; Without cause have they digged [a pit] for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him unawares; And let his net that he hath hid catch himself: With destruction let him fall therein.

9And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah: It shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, Who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, Yea, the poor and the needy from him that robbeth him?

11Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not.

12They reward me evil for good, [To] the bereaving of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother.

15But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: The abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; They did tear me, and ceased not:

16Like the profane mockers in feasts, They gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.

18I will give thee thanks in the great assembly: I will praise thee among much people.

19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20For they speak not peace; But they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.

21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me; They said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah; keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice [due] unto me, [Even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me.

25Let them not say in their heart, Aha, so would we have it: Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26Let them be put to shame and confounded together that rejoice at my hurt: Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.

27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: Yea, let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness [And] of thy praise all the day long. Psalm 36 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David the servant of Jehovah.

1By David. O Lord, fight those who fight with me. Attack those who attack me.

2Grab your small shield and large shield, and rise up to help me.

3Use your spear and lance against those who chase me. Assure me with these words: “I am your deliverer.”

4May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated. May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.

5May they be like wind-driven chaff, as the angel of the Lord attacks them.

6May their path be dark and slippery, as the angel of the Lord chases them.

7I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me and dug a pit to trap me.

8Let destruction take them by surprise. Let the net they hid catch them. Let them fall into destruction.

9Then I will rejoice in the Lord and be happy because of his deliverance.

10With all my strength I will say, “O Lord, who can compare to you? You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them, the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.”

11Violent men perjure themselves, and falsely accuse me.

12They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow.

13When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered.)

14I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother.

15But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest.

16When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me.

17O Lord, how long are you going to watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions.

18Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you before a large crowd of people.

19Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me. Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes.

20For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who live peacefully in the land.

21They are ready to devour me; they say, “Aha! Aha! We’ve got you!”

22But you take notice, Lord; do not be silent! O Lord, do not remain far away from me.

23Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me. My God and Lord, defend my just cause.

24Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God. Do not let them gloat over me.

25Do not let them say to themselves, “Aha! We have what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have devoured him.”

26May those who rejoice in my troubles be totally embarrassed and ashamed. May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation.

27May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice. May they continually say, “May the Lord be praised, for he wants his servant to be secure.”

28Then I will tell others about your justice, and praise you all day long.

1Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

3Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh’s angel driving them on.

6Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh’s angel pursuing them.

7For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

8Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.

9My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All my bones shall say, “Yahweh, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”

11Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.

12They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.

14I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

15But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.

16Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

17Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

18I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.

19Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.

20For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”

22You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.

23Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!

24Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.

25Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

26Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.

27Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, “Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”

28My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.