Psalms, 35

0.

0. A Psalm of David.

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

1. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!

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

2. Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help!

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

3. Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your deliverance!"

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 put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me!

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

5. Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on!

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

6. Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!

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

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

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

8. Let ruin come upon them unawares! And let the net which they hid ensnare them; let them fall therein to ruin!

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

9. Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his deliverance.

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, "O LORD, who is like thee, thou who deliverest the weak from him who is too strong for him, the weak and needy from him who despoils him?"

11. False witnesses come forward against me asking me questions I cannot answer, they cross-examine me,

11. Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.

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

12. They requite me evil for good; my soul is forlorn.

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

13. But I, when they were sick -- I wore sackcloth, I afflicted myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed on my 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. as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; I went about as one who laments his mother, bowed down and in mourning.

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

15. But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; cripples whom I knew not slandered me without ceasing;

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

16. they impiously mocked more and more, gnashing at 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. How long, O LORD, wilt thou look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my life from the lions!

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

18. Then I will thank thee in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise thee.

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

19. Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.

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

20. For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they conceive words of deceit.

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

21. They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha! our eyes have seen it!"

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

22. Thou hast seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!

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

23. Bestir thyself, and awake for my right, for 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. Vindicate 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 to themselves, "Aha, we have our heart's desire!" 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 put to shame and confusion altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who 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 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!"

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

28. Then my tongue shall tell of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.