AFV2020 - Psalms - 35

35:1  A Psalm of David.Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

35:2  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

35:3  Also draw out the spear and the lance against those who pursue me; say to my soul, "I am your salvation."

35:4  Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion, those who seek after my soul; let them be turned back and humiliated, those who devise evil against me.

35:5  Let them be as chaff before the wind; and let the angel of the LORD drive them away.

35:6  Let their way be dark and slippery; and let the angel of the LORD pursue them;

35:7  For without cause they have hidden their net for me; without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

35:8  Let destruction come upon him in a time he will not know; and let his net which he has concealed catch him, let him fall into destruction.

35:9  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; it shall rejoice in His salvation.

35:10  All my bones shall say, "O LORD, Who is like You, who delivers the poor from him stronger than he; yea, even the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?"

35:11  Cruel witnesses rose up; they asked me of things that I knew nothing about.

35:12  They rewarded me evil for good, bereaving my soul.

35:13  But when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

35:14  I went about as though it were a friend or brother; I bowed down as one mourning for his mother.

35:15  But in my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; the attackers whom I did not know gathered themselves against me. They slandered without ceasing.

35:16  As profane mockers, they gnashed at me with their teeth.

35:17  O LORD, how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from the lions.

35:18  I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng.

35:19  Let not those who are my enemies without cause rejoice over me; let not those who hate me wink the eye,

35:20  For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful things against those who are quiet in the land.

35:21  And they open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it."

35:22  You have seen, O LORD; do not keep silence; O LORD, do not be far from me.

35:23  Stir up Yourself and awaken to my defense, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

35:24  Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; and do not let them rejoice over me.

35:25  Do not let them say in their hearts, "Aha! We have our desire!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up."

35:26  May those who rejoice at my distress be altogether ashamed and humiliated; let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.

35:27  Let those who delight in my vindication be jubilant and rejoice; and let them say without ceasing, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the peace of His servant."

35:28  And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.