Psalms, 35

1. Oppose, LORD, those who oppose me; war upon those who make war upon me.

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

2. Take up the shield and buckler; rise up in my defense.

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

3. Brandish lance and battle-ax against my pursuers. Say to my heart, "I am your salvation."

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

4. Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgrace. Let those who plot evil against me be turned back and confounded.

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

5. Make them like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on.

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

6. Make their way slippery and dark, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

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

7. Without cause they set their snare for me; without cause they dug a pit for me.

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

8. Let ruin overtake them unawares; let the snare they have set catch them; let them fall into the pit they have dug.

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

9. Then I will rejoice in the LORD, exult in God's salvation.

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

10. My very bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like you, Who rescue the afflicted from the powerful, the afflicted and needy from the despoiler?"

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?

11. Malicious witnesses come forward, accuse me of things I do not know.

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

12. They repay me evil for good and I am all alone.

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

13. Yet I, when they were ill, put on sackcloth, afflicted myself with fasting, sobbed my prayers upon my bosom.

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

14. I went about in grief as for my brother, bent in mourning as for my mother.

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

15. Yet when I stumbled they gathered with glee, gathered against me like strangers. They slandered me without ceasing;

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

16. without respect they mocked me, gnashed their teeth against me.

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

17. Lord, how long will you look on? Save me from roaring beasts, my precious life from lions!

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

18. Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you before the mighty throng.

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

19. Do not let lying foes smirk at me, my undeserved enemies wink knowingly.

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

20. They speak no words of peace, but against the quiet in the land they fashion deceitful speech.

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

21. They open wide their mouths against me. They say, "Aha! Good! Our eyes relish the sight!"

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

22. You see this, LORD; do not be silent; Lord, do not withdraw from me.

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

23. Awake, be vigilant in my defense, in my cause, my God and my Lord.

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

24. Defend me because you are just, LORD; my God, do not let them gloat over me.

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

25. Do not let them say in their hearts, "Aha! Just what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have devoured that one!"

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

26. Put to shame and confound all who relish my misfortune. Clothe with shame and disgrace those who lord it over me.

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.

27. But let those who favor my just cause shout for joy and be glad. May they ever say, "Exalted be the LORD who delights in the peace of his loyal servant."

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.'

28. Then my tongue shall recount your justice, declare your praise, all the day long.

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