1 Contend, O LORD , with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me. |
2 Take up shield and buckler;
arise and come to my aid. |
3 Brandish spear and javelin1 35:3 Or and block the way
against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
"I am your salvation." |
4 May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay. |
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away; |
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. |
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me, |
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise-
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. |
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD
and delight in his salvation. |
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." |
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about. |
12 They repay me evil for good
and leave my soul forlorn. |
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered, |
14 I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother. |
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing. |
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked2 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean ungodly circle of mockers . ;
they gnashed their teeth at me. |
17 O Lord, how long will you look on?
Rescue my life from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions. |
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among throngs of people I will praise you. |
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. |
20 They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land. |
21 They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it." |
22 O LORD , you have seen this; be not silent.
Do not be far from me, O Lord. |
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord. |
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me. |
25 Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!"
or say, "We have swallowed him up." |
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. |
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." |
28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness
and of your praises all day long. |
