Psalms 35

1 O Lord, be on my side against those who are judging me; be at war with those who make war against me.

1By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,

2Be a breastplate to me, and give me your help.

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

3Take up your spear and keep back my attackers; say to my soul, I am your salvation.

3And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, `Thy salvation I <FI>am<Fi> .'

4Let them be overcome and put to shame who make attempts to take my soul; let those who would do me damage be turned back and made foolish.

4They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.

5Let them be like dust from the grain before the wind; let the angel of the Lord send them in flight.

5They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.

6Let their way be dark and full of danger; let them be troubled by the angel of the Lord.

6Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.

7For without cause they have put a net ready for me secretly, in which to take my soul.

7For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.

8Let destruction come on them without their knowledge; let them be taken themselves in their secret nets, falling into the same destruction.

8Meet him doth desolation--he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

9And my soul will have joy in the Lord; it will be glad in his salvation.

9And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.

10All my bones will say, Lord, who is like you? The saviour of the poor man from the hands of the strong, of him who is poor and in need from him who takes his goods.

10All my bones say, `Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.'

11False witnesses got up: they put questions to me about crimes of which I had no knowledge.

11Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.

12They gave me back evil for good, troubling my soul.

12They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,

13But as for me, when they were ill I put on the clothing of sorrow: I went without food and was sad, and my prayer came back again to my heart.

13And I--in their sickness my clothing <FI>is<Fi> sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.

14My behaviour was as if it had been my friend or my brother: I was bent low in grief like one whose mother is dead.

14As <FI>if<Fi> a friend, as <FI>if<Fi> my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.

15But they took pleasure in my trouble, and came together, yes, low persons came together against me without my knowledge; they never came to an end of wounding me.

15And--in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;

16Like men of deceit they put me to shame; the voice of their wrath was loud against me.

16With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.

17Lord, how long will you be looking on? take my soul from their destruction, my life from the lions.

17Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.

18I will give you praise in the great meeting; I will give you honour among a strong people.

18I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.

19Do not let my haters be glad over me falsely; let not those who are against me without cause make sport of me.

19Mine enemies rejoice not over me <FI>with<Fi> falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.

20For they do not say words of peace; in their deceit they are designing evil things against the quiet ones in the land.

20For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,

21Their mouths were open wide against me, and they said, Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.

21And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, `Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'

22You have seen this, O Lord; be not unmoved: O Lord, be not far from me.

22Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord--be not far from me,

23Be awake, O Lord, be moved to take up my cause, my God and my Lord.

23Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.

24Be my judge, O Lord my God, in your righteousness; do not let them be glad over me.

24Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.

25Let them not say in their hearts, So we will have it: let them not say, We have put an end to him.

25They do not say in their heart, `Aha, our desire.' They do not say, `We swallowed him up.'

26Let all those who take pleasure in my troubles be shamed and come to nothing: let those who are lifted up against me be covered with shame and have no honour.

26They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me.

27Let those who are on my side give cries of joy; let them ever say, The Lord be praised, for he has pleasure in the peace of his servant.

27They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, `Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.'

28And my tongue will be talking of your righteousness and of your praise all the day.

28And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!