Psalms 35

Psalm 35 ESV

1David prayeth for safety to himself, and confusion to his enemies: 11he complaineth of their false witness, ingratitude, and malice against him: 22he moveth God to do him right, and avenge him.
Of David.
1 Contend, O Lord, with those who 1contend with me; 2fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of 1shield and buckler and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelina against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!”
4 1Let them be 2put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be 3turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like 1chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and 1slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!
7 For 1without cause 2they hid their net for me; without cause they dug 3a pit for my life.a
8 Let 1destruction come upon him 2when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction!
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, 1exulting in his salvation.
10 All my 1bones shall say, “O Lord, 2who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
11 1Maliciousa witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.
12 1They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.a
13 But I, 1when they were sick— I 2wore sackcloth; I 3afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed 4with head boweda on my chest.
14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I 1bowed down in mourning.
15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; 1wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;
16 like profane mockers at a feast,a they 1gnash at me with their teeth.
17 How long, O Lord, will you 1look on? Rescue me from their destruction, 2my precious life from the lions!
18 I will thank you in 1the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.
19 1Let not those rejoice over me who are 2wrongfully my foes, and let not those 3wink the eye who 4hate me 5without cause.
20 For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.
21 They 1open wide their mouths against me; they say, 2“Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”
22 1You have seen, O Lord; 2be not silent! O Lord, 3be not far from me!
23 Awake and 1rouse yourself for 2my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 1Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and 2let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts, 1“Aha, our heart's desire!” Let them not say, 2“We have swallowed him up.”
26 Let them be 1put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be 2clothed with shame and dishonor who 3magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad 1and say evermore, 2“Great is the Lord, who 3delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my 1tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.
Psalms 35

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