Psalms 35
1JUDGE them, O Lord, who do me wrong. Fight against them who are at war with me.
2Take hold of the shield and buckler; and stand up in my defence.
3Unsheath the sword and stop my pursuers: say to my soul, I am thy safety.
4Let them who seek my life be shamed and confounded: let them be turned back and put to shame; who are devising evils against me.
5Let them be like dust before the wind, when the angel of the Lord is afflicting them.
6Let their way be dark and slippery, when the angel of the Lord is pursuing them.
7Seeing they have without cause, hid for me their destructive snare—have, without reason, reproached my soul;
8let a snare, which they know not, come upon them, and the gin catch them, which they have hidden; and by that very snare let them fall.
9But let my soul rejoice in the Lord, and be delighted with His salvation.
10Let all my bones say, O Lord, who is like Thee, who deliverest the afflicted from the hand of them who are stronger than he—the afflicted and needy from them who spoil him?
11False witnesses having risen up against me, laid to my charge things which I knew not;
12they returned me evil for good, even bereavement to my soul.
13As for me, while they were raising troubles against me I clothed myself with sackcloth, and humbled my soul with fasting. Though my prayer is to return into mine own bosom,
14as I would a friend, as I would an own brother, so did I endeavour to conciliate. I humbled myself as one in mourning and deep sorrow.
15But against me they rejoiced and gathered together; for me, scourges were collected and I did not know: they were split—and they had no compunction.
16They tortured me—with scoffs they derided me; they gnashed their teeth at me.
17O Lord, when wilt Thou look down—rescue my soul from their malice. This only begotten of mine, from lions.
18I will render Thee thanks in a great congregation; among a mighty people I will praise Thee.
19Over me, let not these, my bitter enemies, vainly rejoice; who hate me without cause, and give assent with their eyes.
20For to me indeed they spoke words of peace, while with wrath they were contriving plots.
21Then they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, Aha! aha! our eyes have seen.
22Thou, O Lord, hast seen; keep silence no longer. O Lord, stand not at a distance from me.
23Arise, O Lord, and attend to my trial, O my God and my Lord, for my justification.
24Judge me, O Lord, according to Thy righteousness, O Lord my God! and let them not rejoice over me.
25Let them not say in their hearts, Aha! aha! it is to our mind; nor let them say, We have swallowed him up.
26Let them who rejoice at my calamities be shamed, and confounded together; let them be clothed with shame and confusion, who magnify themselves against me.
27Let them who desire my justification, exult with joy and be gladdened. Let them who wish the peace of Thy servant, say continually, The Lord be magnified.
28So shall my tongue speak of Thy righteousness—of Thy praise all the day long.