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Psalms 35

35
A Prayer for Rescue from Enemies
Of David.#The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
1Contend, O Yahweh, with my contenders;
fight those who fight me.
2Grasp buckler and shield
and rise to my aid.
3And draw the spear and javelin to meet those who pursue me.
Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4Let those who seek my life be shamed and humiliated.
Let those who plot calamity against me be repulsed and ashamed.
5Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of Yahweh driving them.#Literally “pushing”
6Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of Yahweh pursuing them.
7For without cause they secretly hide the pit with their net for me;
without cause they dug it for my life.
8Let unforeseen ruin#Literally “ruin he does not know” come on him,
and his net that he hid, let it catch him.
Let him fall into it in ruin.
9Then my soul will rejoice in Yahweh;
it will rejoice in his salvation.
10All of my bones shall say, “O Yahweh, who is like you,
who delivers the poor from one stronger than he
and the poor and needy from the one who robs him?”
11Violent witnesses rise up;
they ask me concerning what I do not know.
12They repay me evil in place of good.
It is bereavement to my soul.
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth.
I weakened my soul with fasting,
and my prayer returned to me unanswered.#Literally “upon my lap it will return”
14I behaved#Literally “walked about” as though he were a friend or as a brother to me.
As one lamenting a mother, I was bowed down in mourning.
15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together;
smiters whom I did not know gathered against me.
They tore and did not cease.
16Among the ungodly of the mockers at feasts,#With a slight change the Hebrew might read, “The ungodly boldly mocked”
they gnashed at me with their teeth.
17My Lord, how long will you watch?
Restore my life from their ravages,#Or “roaring”
my only life from the young lions.
18I will give thanks to you in the great assembly;
among the mighty people I will praise you.
19Let not those who are wrongfully my enemies#Or “those who oppose me with falsehood” rejoice over me.
Nor let those who hate me without cause wink the eye.
20For they do not speak peace,
but against the quiet ones of the land
they plan deceitful words.
21They also made wide their mouths#Hebrew “mouth” against me.
They said, “Aha! Aha!
Our eyes have seen it.”
22You have seen, O Yahweh. Do not be deaf.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
23Wake up and rouse yourself for my right,
for my cause, O my God and my Lord.
24Vindicate me according to your righteousness,
O Yahweh my God,
and do not let them rejoice over me.
25Do not let them say in their hearts,#Hebrew “heart” “Aha, our desire.”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26Let them be shamed and abashed altogether,
who rejoice at my misfortune.
Let them put on shame and insult,
who magnify themselves against me.
27Let them shout for joy and be glad,
who delight in my vindication;
and let them say continually, “Yahweh is great,
who delights in the welfare of his servant.”
28Then my tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
and your praise all day.

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Psalms 35: LEB

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