Psalms 35

1Of David.O ETERNAL One, strive with my adversaries,give battle to my foes,

2take up shield and buckler,and come to my defense;

3ready the spear and javelinagainst my pursuers;tell me, “I am your deliverance.”

4Let those who seek my lifebe frustrated and put to shame;let those who plan to harm mefall back in disgrace.

5Let them be as chaff in the wind, GOD’s angel driving them on.

6Let their path be dark and slippery,with GOD’s angel in pursuit.

7For without cause they hid a net to trap me;without cause they dug a pit for me.

8Let disaster overtake them unawares;let the net they hid catch them;let them fall into it when disaster [strikes].

9Then shall I exult in GOD,rejoice in having been delivered.

10All my bones shall say,“ETERNAL One, who is like You?You save a pauper from someone stronger,a needy pauper from a despoiler.”

11Malicious witnesses appearwho question me about things I do not know.

12They repay me evil for good,[seeking] my bereavement.

13Yet, when they were ill,my dress was sackcloth,I kept a fast—may what I prayed for happen to me!

14I walked about as though it were my friend or my kin;I was bowed with gloom, like one mourning for a mother.

15But when I stumble, they gleefully gather;wretches gather against me,I know not why;they tear at me without end.

16With impious, mocking grimace they gnash their teeth at me.

17O my Sovereign, how long will You look on?Rescue me from their attacks, my precious life, from the lions,

18that I may praise You in a great congregation,acclaim You in a mighty throng.

19Let not my treacherous enemies rejoice over me,or those who hate me without reason wink their eyes.

20For they do not offer amity,but devise fraudulent schemes against harmless folk.

21They open wide their mouths at me,saying, “Aha, aha, we have seen it!”

22You have seen it, O ETERNAL One;do not hold aloof!O my Sovereign, be not far from me!

23Wake, rouse Yourself for my cause,for my claim, O my God and my Sovereign!

24Take up my cause, O my ETERNAL God, as You are beneficent,and let them not rejoice over me.

25Let them not think,“Aha, just what we wished!”Let them not say,“We have destroyed him!”

26May those who rejoice at my misfortunebe frustrated and utterly disgraced;may those who vaunt themselves over mebe clad in frustration and shame.

27May those who desire my vindicationsing forth joyously;may they always say,“Extolled be GOD who desires the well-being of one who renders service,”

28while my tongue shall recite Your beneficent acts,Your praises all day long.