Psalms, 35

Of David.

¹ Do conduct my case, O Jehovah,^*1 against my opponents; War against those warring against me.

² Take hold of buckler and large shield, And do rise up in assistance of me,

³ And draw spear and double ax to meet those pursuing me. Say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”

⁴ May those be shamed and humiliated who are hunting for my soul. May those be turned back and be abashed who are scheming calamity for me.

⁵ May they become like chaff before the wind, And let Jehovah’s angel be pushing [them] along.

⁶ Let their way become darkness and slippery places, And let Jehovah’s angel be pursuing them.

⁷ For without cause they have hid for me their netted pit; Without cause they have dug it for my soul.^*1

⁸ Let ruin come upon him without his knowing, And let his own net that he hid catch him; With ruin let him fall into it.

⁹ But let my own soul be joyful in Jehovah; Let it exult in his salvation.

¹⁰ Let all my bones themselves say: “O Jehovah, who is there like you, Delivering the afflicted one from one stronger than he is, And the afflicted and poor one from the one robbing him?”

¹¹ Violent witnesses rise up; What I have not known they ask me.

¹² They reward me with bad for good, Bereavement to my soul.

¹³ As for me, when they became ill, my clothing was sackcloth, With fasting I afflicted my soul, And upon my bosom my own prayer would return.

¹⁴ As for a companion, as for a brother of mine, I walked about like one mourning for a mother. Saddened, I bowed down.

¹⁵ But at my limping they rejoiced and gathered together; They gathered together against me, Striking [me] down when I did not know it; They ripped [me] to pieces and did not keep silent.

¹⁶ Among the apostate mockers for a cake^*1 There was a grinding^*2 of their teeth even against me.

¹⁷ O Jehovah,^*1 how long will you keep seeing [it]? Do bring back my soul from their ravages, Even my only one^*2 from the maned young lions.

¹⁸ I will laud you in the big congregation;^*1 Among a numerous people I shall praise you.

¹⁹ O may those who for no reason are my enemies not rejoice over me; As for those hating me without cause, let them not wink the eye.

²⁰ For it is not peace that they speak; But against the quiet ones of the earth Things of deception they keep scheming.

²¹ And they open wide their mouth even against me. They have said: “Aha! Aha! our eye has seen [it].”

²² You have seen, O Jehovah.^*1 Do not keep silent.^*2 O Jehovah,^*3 do not keep yourself far from me.

²³ Do arouse yourself^*1 and awake to my judgment, O my God, even Jehovah,^*2 to my case at law.

²⁴ Judge me according to your righteousness, O Jehovah^*1 my God, And may they not rejoice over me.

²⁵ O may they not say in their heart: “Aha, our soul!”^*1 May they not say: “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Let those be ashamed and abashed all together Who are joyful at my calamity. Let those be clothed with shame and humiliation who are assuming great airs against me.

²⁷ Let those cry out joyfully and rejoice who are delighting in my righteousness, And let them say constantly: “Let Jehovah^*1 be magnified, who takes delight in the peace of his servant.”

²⁸ And let my own tongue utter in an undertone your righteousness, All day long your praise.