Psalm 35
Judica, Domine
1 Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me,*
and fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up the shield and buckler,*
and stand up to help me.
3 Bring forth the spear and bar the way against those who pursue me;*
say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame who seek after my life;*
let them be turned back and brought to confusion who imagine evil against me.
5 Let them be as the chaff before the wind,*
and let the angel of the Lord scatter them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,*
and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
7 For they have secretly laid their net to destroy me without a cause;*
indeed, without a cause have they made a pit to take away my life.
8 Let sudden destruction come upon them unawares, and the net, which they have laid secretly, catch themselves,*
that they may fall into their own trouble.
9 Then shall my soul be joyful in the Lord;*
I shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, "Lord, who is like you? You deliver the poor from those who are too strong for them;*
indeed, the poor and those who are in misery from those who rob them."
11 Malicious witnesses rise up;*
they charge me with matters I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good,*
to the great sorrow of my soul.
13 Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting;*
I prayed with my whole heart, as if it had been my friend or my brother.
14 I behaved myself as one who mourns for his mother;*
I was bowed down with heaviness of heart.
15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced and gathered themselves together;*
indeed, those who struck me came together against me, and I had no rest; they tore at me, and would not cease.
16 When I stumbled they mocked me exceedingly,*
and gnashed at me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long will you look on this?*
O deliver me from the calamities they bring upon me, and my life from the lions.
18 So will I give you thanks in the great congregation;*
I will praise you among many people.
19 O let not those who are my enemies triumph over me deceitfully;*
neither let them wink with their eyes, those who hate me without a cause.
20 For their talking is not for peace,*
but they imagine deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
21 They open their mouths at me, and say,*
"Aha! Aha! We saw it with our own eyes!"
22 This you have seen, O Lord.*
Hold not your tongue then; be not far from me, O Lord.
23 Awake, and stand up to judge my case;*
avenge my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to your righteousness,*
and let them not triumph over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha! We have what we want!"*
Neither let them say, "We have devoured him."
26 Let them be put to confusion and shame who rejoice at my trouble;*
let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who boast against me.
27 Let them be glad and rejoice who favor my righteous cause;*
indeed, let them say always, "Great is the Lord, who takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."
28 And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of your righteousness*
and of your praise all the day long.
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