Psalms 35
35
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
Of David.
1Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2Take hold of shield and buckler,
and rise up to help me!
3Draw the spear and javelin
against my pursuers;
say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”
4Let them be put to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life.
Let them be turned back and confounded
who devise evil against me.
5Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them on.
6Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7For without cause they hid their net#35.7 Heb a pit, their net for me;
without cause they dug a pit#35.7 The word pit is transposed from the preceding line for my life.
8Let ruin come on them unawares.
And let the net that they hid ensnare them;
let them fall in it—to their ruin.
9Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord,
exulting in his deliverance.
10All my bones shall say,
“O Lord, who is like you?
You deliver the weak
from those too strong for them,
the weak and needy from those who despoil them.”
11Malicious witnesses rise up;
they ask me about things I do not know.
12They repay me evil for good;
my soul is forlorn.
13But as for me, when they were sick,
I wore sackcloth;
I afflicted myself with fasting.
I prayed with head bowed#35.13 Or My prayer turned back on my bosom,
14as though I grieved for a friend or a brother;
I went about as one who laments for a mother,
bowed down and in mourning.
15But at my stumbling they gathered in glee,
they gathered together against me;
ruffians whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing;
16they impiously mocked more and more,#35.16 Cn Compare Gk: Heb like the profanest of mockers of a cake
gnashing at me with their teeth.
17How long, O Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my life from the lions!
18Then I will thank you in the great congregation;
in the mighty throng I will praise you.
19Do not let my treacherous enemies rejoice over me,
or those who hate me without cause wink the eye.
20For they do not speak peace,
but they conceive deceitful words
against those who are quiet in the land.
21They open wide their mouths against me;
they say, “Aha, Aha,
our eyes have seen it.”
22You have seen, O Lord; do not be silent!
O Lord, do not be far from me!
23Wake up! Bestir yourself for my defense,
for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,
according to your righteousness,
and do not let them rejoice over me.
25Do not let them say to themselves,
“Aha, we have our heart's desire.”
Do not let them say, “We have swallowed you#35.25 Heb him up.”
26Let all those who rejoice at my calamity
be put to shame and confusion;
let those who exalt themselves against me
be clothed with shame and dishonor.
27Let those who desire my vindication
shout for joy and be glad,
and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord,
who delights in the welfare of his servant.”
28Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all day long.
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Psalms 35: NRSV
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Psalms 35
35
A Psalm of David.
1Plead my cause, O Lord, with my adversaries;
fight those who fight me.
2#Ps 63:1; 84:2 Take hold of the large shield and small shield,
and rise up for my help.
3#Ps 79:10; 80:5 Draw the spear and javelin
against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am Your salvation.”
4#Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8 May those who seek my life
be ashamed and humiliated;
may those who plan my injury
be turned back and put to shame.
5#Ps 42:11; 43:5 May they be as chaff before the wind,
and may the angel of the Lord cast them down.
6#2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8–9 May their way be dark and slippery,
and may the angel of the Lord pursue them.
7#Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3 For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,
which they have dug without cause for my soul.
8#Job 35:10; Ps 63:6 Let destruction come on him without warning,
and let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it, to his destruction.
9#Ps 38:6; 18:2 My soul will be joyful in the Lord;
it will rejoice in His salvation.
10#Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17 All my bones will say,
“Lord, who is like You,
who delivers the poor from a stronger one,
the poor and the needy from the one who robs them?”
11#Ps 42:5; 43:5 Witnesses intent on violence rose up;
they accused me of things I knew nothing about.
12They rewarded me evil for good,
the bereavement of my soul.
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled my soul with fasting;
and my prayer returns to my own heart.
14I paced as though he were my friend or brother;
I bowed down lamenting,
as one who mourns for a mother.
15But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together;
assailants gathered together against me, though I was unaware;
they tore me apart and did not stop;
16with hypocritical mockers in feasts,
they gnashed on me with their teeth.
17Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue my soul from their destructions,
my life from the lions.
18I will give You thanks in the great congregation;
I will praise You among a mighty people.
19May my deceitful enemies
not rejoice over me;
nor may those who hate me without cause
wink with their eye.
20For they do not speak peace,
but they devise deceitful matters
against the restful ones in the land.
21They opened their mouth wide against me,
and said, “Aha, aha, our eye has seenit.”
22This You have seen, O Lord; do not be silent;
O Lord, be not far from me.
23Rouse Yourself and awake for my judgment,
for my cause, my God and my Lord.
24Judge me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness,
and may they not rejoice over me.
25May they not say in their hearts, “Ah, we have our soul’s desire.”
May they not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26May those who rejoice at my harm be ashamed
and altogether put to shame;
may they be clothed with shame and dishonor
who magnify themselves against me.
27May those who favor my righteous cause
shout for joy and be glad;
may they say continually, “The Lord be magnified,
who delights in the peace of His servant.”
28My tongue will speak of Your righteousness
and of Your praise all the day long.
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