Shared Word Translation

Psalm 35

Of David.
Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and buckler,
and rise up to help me. Draw spear and bar the way before those who pursue me.
Say to my life, “I am your salvation.”

Let those who seek my life be ashamed and disgraced;
let those who devise evil against me turn back and be humiliated. Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the LORD driving them away. Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. For without cause they hid their net’s pit for me;
without cause they dug it for my life. Let ruin come upon them unawares;
let the net they hid catch them;
into that ruin let them fall.

Then my life will rejoice in the LORD;
it will exult in his salvation. All my bones will say,
“LORD, who is like you,
delivering the poor from one stronger than they,
the poor and needy from the one who robs them?”

Violent witnesses rise up;
they ask me about things I do not know. They repay me evil for good—
bereavement for my life. But as for me, when they were sick,
my clothing was sackcloth;
I afflicted my life with fasting,
and my prayer kept returning to my bosom. I went about as though for a friend, as though for a brother;
as one mourning for a mother, I bowed down in grief.

But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
the afflicted gathered against me, though I did not know it.
They tore at me without ceasing. Like godless mockers at a feast,
they gnashed their teeth at me.

Lord, how long will you look on?
Restore my life from their devastations,
my only one from the young lions. I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among a mighty people I will praise you.

Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me;
do not let those who hate me without cause wink the eye. For they do not speak peace;
against the quiet ones of the land
they devise deceitful words. They open their mouths wide against me;
they say, “Aha! Aha! Our own eyes have seen it!”

You have seen, LORD; do not be silent.
Lord, do not be far from me. Awake and arise for my justice,
my God and my Lord, for my cause. Judge me according to your righteousness, LORD my God,
and do not let them rejoice over me. Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha, our desire!”
Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up.”

Let all who rejoice at my harm
be ashamed and humiliated together;
let those who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace. Let those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and rejoice;
let them say continually,
“Great is the LORD,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.” Then my tongue will speak of your righteousness,
of your praise all day long.