Psalm

35 Do conduct my case, O Jehovah,* 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.*+

 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*+

There was a grinding* of their teeth even against me.+

17 O Jehovah,* how long will you keep seeing [it]?+

Do bring back my soul from their ravages,+

Even my only one*+ from the maned young lions.

18 I will laud you in the big congregation;*+

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.*+ Do not keep silent.*+

O Jehovah,* do not keep yourself far from me.+

23 Do arouse yourself* and awake to my judgment,+

O my God, even Jehovah,* to my case at law.+

24 Judge me according to your righteousness, O Jehovah* my God,+

And may they not rejoice over me.+

25 O may they not say in their heart: “Aha, our soul!”*+

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* 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.+