Psalms 35

¹ [Of David] Accuse my accusers, Yahweh, attack my attackers.

² Grasp your buckler and shield, up, and help me.

³ Brandish spear and pike to confront my pursuers, give me the assurance, 'I am your Saviour.'

⁴ Shame and humiliation on those who are out to kil me! Defeat and repulse in dismay on those whoplot my downfal .

⁵ May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of Yahweh to chase them.

⁶ May their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of Yahweh to hound them.

⁷ Unprovoked they laid their snare for me, unprovoked dug a trap to kill me.

⁸ Ruin comes upon them unawares; the snare they have laid wil catch them, and into their own trapthey will fal .

⁹ Then I shal delight in Yahweh, rejoice that he has saved me.

¹⁰ My very bones wil al exclaim, Yahweh, who can compare with you in rescuing the poor from theoppressor; the needy from the exploiter?

¹¹ False witnesses come forward against me asking me questions I cannot answer, they cross-examineme,

¹² repay my kindness with cruelty, make my life barren.

¹³ But I, when they were il , had worn sackcloth, and mortified myself with fasting, praying ever anew inmy heart,

¹⁴ as if for a friend or brother; I had wandered restless, as if mourning a mother, so bowed had I been insorrow.

¹⁵ When I stumble they gather in glee, gather around me; strangers I never even knew tear me apartincessantly.

¹⁶ If I fal they surround me, grinding their teeth at me.

¹⁷ How much longer, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their onslaughts, from young lions rescuethe one life that I have.

¹⁸ I wil give you thanks in the great assembly praise you where the people gather.

¹⁹ Let not my lying enemies gloat over me; those who hate me unprovoked look askance at me.

²⁰ They have no greeting of peace to the peace-loving people of the land; they think up deceptivespeeches.

²¹ Their mouths wide open to accuse me, they say, 'Come on now, we saw you.'

²² You saw it, Yahweh, do not stay silent; Lord, do not stand aloof from me.

²³ Up, awake, to my defence, my God and my Lord, to my cause.

²⁴ In your saving justice give judgement for me, Yahweh my God, and do not let them gloat over me.

²⁵ Do not let them think, 'Just as we hoped,' nor, 'Now we have swal owed him up.'

²⁶ Shame and dismay on them al who gloat over my misfortunes. Let al who profit at my expense becovered with shame and disgrace.

²⁷ But let al who delight in my uprightness shout for joy and gladness; let them constantly say, 'Great isYahweh, who delights to see his servant in peace.'

²⁸ And my tongue shal recount your saving justice, al day long sing your praise.