35:1 By David. Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.
35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
35:3 Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, �I am your salvation.�
35:4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh�s angel driving them on.
35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh�s angel pursuing them.
35:7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
35:8 Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.
35:9 My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation.
35:10 All my bones shall say, �Yahweh, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?�
35:11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don�t know about.
35:12 They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
35:14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.
35:15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn�t know it. They tore at me, and didn�t cease.
35:16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.
35:17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.
35:18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.
35:19 Don�t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.
35:20 For they don�t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
35:21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, �Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!�
35:22 You have seen it, Yahweh. Don�t keep silent. Lord, don�t be far from me.
35:23 Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
35:24 Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don�t let them gloat over me.
35:25 Don�t let them say in their heart, �Aha! That�s the way we want it!� Don�t let them say, �We have swallowed him up!�
35:26 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, �Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!�
35:28 My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
