OEBcth - Psalms - 35

35:1  Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me, do battle with those who do battle with me.

35:3  Grasp shield and buckler, and rise up as my help. Draw spear and battle-axe, confront those who pursue me. Assure me that you will help me.

35:4  Dishonour and shame be on those who are seeking my life! Defeat and confusion on those who are planning my hurt!

35:5  As chaff before wind may they be, with the Lord’s angel pursuing them.

35:6  Slippery and dark be their way, with his angel thrusting them on.

35:7  For they wantonly hid their net for me, and dug a pit to destroy me.

35:8  Upon them may ruin come unawares; may the net which they hid catch themselves, and into the pit may they fall.

35:9  Then I will exult in the Lord, and be joyful because of his help;

35:10  and all my being will say, “Who, O Lord, is like you, who save the helpless from those too strong for them, the poor and the helpless from those who despoil them?”

35:11  Violent witnesses rise, and ask of me things that I know not.

35:12  Evil for good they requite me, leaving me inwardly comfortless.

35:13  But when they were sick, I put on sackcloth, and chastened myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed low,

35:14  as if for my friend or my brother. I went about bowed and in mourning, as one who laments his mother.

35:15  When I stumbled, they gleefully gathered, strangers gathered around me, and tore at me without ceasing,

35:16  impiously mocking and mocking, bearing their teeth at me.

35:17  How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their roaring, my precious life from the lions.

35:18  I will then give you thanks in the great congregation, and praise you before many people.

35:19  Suffer not those to rejoice over me who are falsely my foes, suffer not those who without cause abhor me to wink with the eye.

35:20  For it is not peace that they speak of those who are quiet in the land; but treacherous charges they plot.

35:21  With wide open mouths they shout, “Hurrah! Hurrah! With our own eyes we saw it.”

35:22  But you have seen, too, O Lord, keep not silence, O Lord, be not far from me.

35:23  Bestir you, awake, for my right my God, my Lord, for my cause.

35:24  You are just, Lord: win for me justice, let them not rejoice over me,

35:25  inwardly saying, “Hurrah! The desire of our hearts at last! Now we have swallowed him up.”

35:26  Shame and confusion together on those who rejoice at my hurt! Clothed with shame and dishonour be those who are haughty to me!

35:27  Let such as delight in my cause ring out their gladness, and say evermore, “Great is the Lord whose delight is the well-being of his servant.”

35:28  Then my tongue will tell of your justice, and all the day long of your praise.