Psalm 35

1Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. 2and stand up for my help. Take hold of shield and buckler, 3Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.” Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. 4Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded. Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. 5Yahweh’s angel driving them on. Let them be as chaff before the wind, 6Yahweh’s angel pursuing them. Let their way be dark and slippery, 7Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. 8Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction. Let destruction come on him unawares. 9It shall rejoice in his salvation. My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. 10who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?” All my bones shall say, “Yahweh, who is like you, 11They ask me about things that I don’t know about. Unrighteous witnesses rise up. 12to the bereaving of my soul. They reward me evil for good, 13I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. 14I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother. I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. 15The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease. But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. 16they gnashed their teeth at me. Like the profane mockers in feasts, 17Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions. Lord, how long will you look on? 18I will praise you among many people. I will give you thanks in the great assembly. 19neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes. Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; 20but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land. For they don’t speak peace, 21They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!” Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. 22Lord, don’t be far from me. You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. 23My Lord, contend for me! Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! 24Don’t let them gloat over me. Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. 25Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!” Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” 26Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me. Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. 27Yes, let them say continually, “Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!” Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. 28My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.