PsalmsChapter 35
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1A psalm of David.
LORD, fight my case against those who oppose me.
Fight against those who fight against me. 2Pick up your shield, both large and small.
Get up and come to help me. 3Draw your spear and javelin against those who chase me.
Say to my soul, "I am the one who saves you." 4May those who want to kill me be put to shame and disgraced.
May those who plan to hurt me be driven back and confused. 5May they be like chaff blown by the wind,
as the angel of the LORD drives them away. 6May their path be dark and slippery,
as the angel of the LORD chases them. 7For they set their net for me for no reason.
They dug a pit to trap me for no reason. 8May ruin come on them by surprise.
May the net they hid catch them.
May they fall into the trap they made. 9Then my soul will be glad in the LORD.
I will be full of joy because he saves me. 10All my bones will shout,
"LORD, who is like you?
You rescue the weak from those who are too strong for them.
You rescue the poor and needy from those who rob them." 11Cruel witnesses step up.
They blame me for things I know nothing about. 12They pay me back with evil for the good I did.
It leaves my soul feeling all alone, like someone in grief. 13But when they were sick, I put on sackcloth.
I made myself low by fasting.
But my prayers came back to me with no answer. 14I walked around in grief as if for my friend or brother.
I was bent over with sorrow,
like someone crying for his mother. 15But when I tripped, they gathered with glee.
They came together against me.
Attackers I did not know told lies about me without stopping. 16Like godless people mocking at a feast,
they ground their teeth at me. 17Lord, how long will you just watch?
Rescue my soul from their attacks.
Save my precious life from these lions. 18Then I will thank you in the great gathering.
I will praise you among many people. 19Don't let my enemies laugh at me for no reason.
Don't let those who hate me without cause wink at me with hate. 20For they don't speak words of peace.
They make up lies and plans
against quiet people in the land. 21They open their mouths wide at me.
They say, "Aha, aha! We saw it with our own eyes!" 22LORD, you have seen it. Do not be silent.
Lord, do not be far from me. 23Wake up! Get up and defend me!
Fight for my cause, my God and my Lord! 24LORD my God, show that I am in the right, because you are righteous.
Don't let them laugh at me. 25Don't let them say in their hearts, "Aha, just what we wanted!"
Don't let them say, "We have swallowed him up!" 26May those who are glad about my pain be put to shame and confused.
May those who lift themselves up over me
be dressed in shame and disgrace. 27May those who want me to be proved right shout for joy and be glad.
May they always say, "The LORD is great!
He is happy when his servant is doing well." 28Then my tongue will tell how righteous you are.
I will praise you all day long.