Psalm 35

Of David.

1Oppose, Yahweh, those who oppose me; fight against those who fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me.

3Draw the spear and the javelin against those who pursue me; say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgraced; let those who plan harm against me be turned back and humiliated.

5Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of Yahweh driving them away.

6Let their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of Yahweh pursuing them.

7For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.

8Let ruin come on him by surprise; let the net he hid catch him; let him fall into it, to his ruin.

9Then my soul will rejoice in Yahweh and delight in his salvation.

10All my bones will say, “Yahweh, who is like you? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

11Malicious witnesses rise up; they question me about things I know nothing of.

12They repay me evil for good; my soul is left bereaved.

13But as for me, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer returned to my own chest.

14I went about as though it were my friend or my brother; I bowed down in mourning as one who grieves for his mother.

15But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me without my knowing; they tore at me without ceasing.

16Like godless mockers at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.

17Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from the lions.

18I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you among a mighty throng.

19Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies gloat over me; do not let those who hate me without cause wink their eyes.

20For they do not speak peace; instead they devise deceitful words against those who live quietly in the land.

21They open their mouths wide against me and say, “Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”

22You have seen, Yahweh; do not be silent. Lord, do not be far from me.

23Wake up! Rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!

24Vindicate me according to your righteousness, Yahweh my God, and do not let them gloat over me.

25Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26Let all who rejoice at my trouble be put to shame and disgraced together; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and dishonor.

27Let those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them say continually, “Great is Yahweh, who delights in the well-being of his servant!”

28Then my tongue will tell of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.