35:1 |
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. |
35:2 |
Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. |
35:3 |
Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." |
35:4 |
May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. |
35:5 |
May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away; |
35:6 |
may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. |
35:7 |
Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, |
35:8 |
may ruin overtake them by surprise--may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. |
35:9 |
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. |
35:10 |
My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them." |
35:11 |
Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. |
35:12 |
They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn. |
35:13 |
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, |
35:14 |
I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. |
35:15 |
But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing. |
35:16 |
Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. |
35:17 |
O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. |
35:18 |
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you. |
35:19 |
Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. |
35:20 |
They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. |
35:21 |
They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it." |
35:22 |
O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord. |
35:23 |
Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. |
35:24 |
Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me. |
35:25 |
Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up." |
35:26 |
May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. |
35:27 |
May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant." |
35:28 |
My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. |
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