Psalms 35
Psalm 35
Prayer for Victory
Of David.
1Oppose my opponents, Lord; fight those who fight me.23Take your shields — large and small — and come to my aid.4
5Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers, and assure me, “I am your deliverance.”6
7Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and humiliated; let those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.8
9Let them be like chaff in the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away.10
11Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.12
13They hid their net for me without cause; they dug a pit for me without cause.14
15Let ruin come on him unexpectedly, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it — to his ruin.16
17Then I will rejoice in the Lord; I will delight in his deliverance.18
19All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you, rescuing the poor from one too strong for him, the poor or the needy from one who robs him?”20
21Malicious witnesses come forward; they question me about things I do not know.22
23They repay me evil for good, making me desolate.24
25Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.26
27I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for a mother.28
29But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.30
31With godless mockery they gnashed their teeth at me.32
33Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages; rescue my precious life from the young lions.34
35I will praise you in the great assembly; I will exalt you among many people.36
37Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let those who hate me without cause wink at me maliciously.38
39For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive fraudulent schemes against those who live peacefully in the land.40
41They open their mouths wide against me and say, “Aha, aha! We saw it!”42
43You saw it, Lord; do not be silent. Lord, do not be far from me.44
45Wake up and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!46
47Vindicate me, Lord my God, in keeping with your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me.48
49Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha! Just what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”50
51Let those who rejoice at my misfortune be disgraced and humiliated; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and reproach.52
53Let those who want my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them continually say, “The Lord be exalted. He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being.”54
55And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praise all day long.56