Psalm 35
A Psalm of David.
1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.s7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.s9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.ss12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.s13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.s14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.ss15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:s16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.s18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.s19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.s20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.22 This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.s26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.s28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Psalm 35
A David Psalm
1-3 Harass these hecklers, God, punch these bullies in the nose. Grab a weapon, anything at hand; stand up for me! Get ready to throw the spear, aim the javelin, at the people who are out to get me. Reassure me; let me hear you say, "I'll save you."
4-8 When those thugs try to knife me in the back, make them look foolish. Frustrate all those who are plotting my downfall. Make them like cinders in a high wind, with God's angel working the bellows. Make their road lightless and mud-slick, with God's angel on their tails. Out of sheer cussedness they set a trap to catch me; for no good reason they dug a ditch to stop me. Surprise them with your ambush— catch them in the very trap they set, the disaster they planned for me.
9-10 But let me run loose and free, celebrating God's great work, Every bone in my body laughing, singing, "God, there's no one like you. You put the down-and-out on their feet and protect the unprotected from bullies!"
11-12 Hostile accusers appear out of nowhere, they stand up and badger me. They pay me back misery for mercy, leaving my soul empty.
13-14 When they were sick, I dressed in black; instead of eating, I prayed. My prayers were like lead in my gut, like I'd lost my best friend, my brother. I paced, distraught as a motherless child, hunched and heavyhearted.
15-16 But when I was down they threw a party! All the nameless riffraff of the town came chanting insults about me. Like barbarians desecrating a shrine, they destroyed my reputation.
17-18 God, how long are you going to stand there doing nothing? Save me from their brutalities; everything I've got is being thrown to the lions. I will give you full credit when everyone gathers for worship; When the people turn out in force I will say my Hallelujahs.
19-21 Don't let these liars, my enemies, have a party at my expense, Those who hate me for no reason, winking and rolling their eyes. No good is going to come from that crowd; They spend all their time cooking up gossip against those who mind their own business. They open their mouths in ugly grins, Mocking, "Ha-ha, ha-ha, thought you'd get away with it? We've caught you hands down!"
22 Don't you see what they're doing, God? You're not going to let them Get by with it, are you? Not going to walk off without doing something, are you?
23-26 Please get up—wake up! Tend to my case. My God, my Lord—my life is on the line. Do what you think is right, God, my God, but don't make me pay for their good time. Don't let them say to themselves, "Ha-ha, we got what we wanted." Don't let them say, "We've chewed him up and spit him out." Let those who are being hilarious at my expense Be made to look ridiculous. Make them wear donkey's ears; Pin them with the donkey's tail, who made themselves so high and mighty!
27-28 But those who want the best for me, Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over, "God is great—everything works together for good for his servant." I'll tell the world how great and good you are, I'll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.
