Psalms, 35

1. [Of David] Accuse my accusers, Yahweh, attack my attackers.

1. <[A Psalm] of David.> Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2. Grasp your buckler and shield, up, and help me.

2. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3. Brandish spear and pike to confront my pursuers, give me the assurance, 'I am your Saviour.'

3. Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation.

4. Shame and humiliation on those who are out to kill me! Defeat and repulse in dismay on those who plot my downfall.

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. May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of Yahweh to chase them.

5. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].

6. May their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of Yahweh to hound them.

6. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7. Unprovoked they laid their snare for me, unprovoked dug a trap to kill me.

7. For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.

8. Ruin comes upon them unawares; the snare they have laid will catch them, and into their own trap they will fall.

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.

9. Then I shall delight in Yahweh, rejoice that he has saved me.

9. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10. My very bones will all exclaim, Yahweh, who can compare with you in rescuing the poor from the oppressor; the needy from the exploiter?

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 come forward against me asking me questions I cannot answer, they cross-examine me,

11. False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.

12. repay my kindness with cruelty, make my life barren.

12. They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.

13. But I, when they were ill, had worn sackcloth, and mortified myself with fasting, praying ever anew in my heart,

13. 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.

14. as if for a friend or brother; I had wandered restless, as if mourning a mother, so bowed had I been in sorrow.

14. I behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother.

15. When I stumble they gather in glee, gather around me; strangers I never even knew tear me apart incessantly.

15. 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:

16. If I fall they surround me, grinding their teeth at me.

16. With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17. How much longer, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their onslaughts, from young lions rescue the one life that I have.

17. Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18. I will give you thanks in the great assembly praise you where the people gather.

18. I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19. Let not my lying enemies gloat over me; those who hate me unprovoked look askance at me.

19. Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20. They have no greeting of peace to the peace-loving people of the land; they think up deceptive speeches.

20. For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land.

21. Their mouths wide open to accuse me, they say, 'Come on now, we saw you.'

21. Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it].

22. You saw it, Yahweh, do not stay silent; Lord, do not stand aloof from me.

22. [This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23. Up, awake, to my defence, my God and my Lord, to my cause.

23. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24. In your saving justice give judgement for me, Yahweh my God, and do not let them gloat over me.

24. Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25. Do not let them think, 'Just as we hoped,' nor, 'Now we have swallowed him up.'

25. Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26. Shame and dismay on them all who gloat over my misfortunes. Let all who profit at my expense be covered with shame and disgrace.

26. 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. But let all who delight in my uprightness shout for joy and gladness; let them constantly say, 'Great is Yahweh, who delights to see his servant in peace.'

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.

28. And my tongue shall recount your saving justice, all day long sing your praise.

28. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.