Psalms 35

¹Contend with my opponents, O LORD;

²Take up Your shield and buckler;

³Draw the spear and javelin 35:3 Or and close the way against my pursuers;

⁴May those who seek my life

⁵May they be like chaff in the wind,

⁶May their path be dark and slick,

⁷For without cause they laid their net for me;

⁸May ruin befall them by surprise;

⁹Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD

¹⁰All my bones will exclaim,

¹¹Hostile witnesses come forward;

¹²They repay me evil for good,

¹³Yet when they were ill,

¹⁴I paced about

¹⁵But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee;

¹⁶Like godless jesters at a feast,35:16 Or Like a godless circle of mockers,

¹⁷How long, O Lord, will You look on?

¹⁸Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly;

¹⁹Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause,

²⁰For they do not speak peace,

²¹They gape at me and say,

²²O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent.

²³Awake and rise to my defense,

²⁴Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God,

²⁵Let them not say in their hearts,

²⁶May those who gloat in my distress

²⁷May those who favor my vindication

²⁸Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness