Psalms 35

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A Psalm of David. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!	1 Of David. Oppose, LORD, those who oppose me; war upon those who make war upon me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help!	2 Take up the shield and buckler; rise up in my defense.
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your deliverance!"	3 Brandish lance and battle-ax against my pursuers. Say to my heart, "I am your salvation."
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me!	4 Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgrace. Let those who plot evil against me be turned back and confounded.
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on!	5 Make them like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!	6 Make their way slippery and dark, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.	7 Without cause they set their snare for me; without cause they dug a pit for me.
8 Let ruin come upon them unawares! And let the net which they hid ensnare them; let them fall therein to ruin!	8 Let ruin overtake them unawares; let the snare they have set catch them; let them fall into the pit they have dug.
9 Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his deliverance.	9 Then I will rejoice in the LORD, exult in God's salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like thee, thou who deliverest the weak from him who is too strong for him, the weak and needy from him who despoils him?"	10 My very bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like you, Who rescue the afflicted from the powerful, the afflicted and needy from the despoiler?"
11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.	11 Malicious witnesses come forward, accuse me of things I do not know.
12 They requite me evil for good; my soul is forlorn.	12 They repay me evil for good and I am all alone.
13 But I, when they were sick-- I wore sackcloth, I afflicted myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed on my bosom,	13 Yet I, when they were ill, put on sackcloth, afflicted myself with fasting, sobbed my prayers upon my bosom.
14 as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; I went about as one who laments his mother, bowed down and in mourning.	14 I went about in grief as for my brother, bent in mourning as for my mother.
15 But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; cripples whom I knew not slandered me without ceasing;	15 Yet when I stumbled they gathered with glee, gathered against me like strangers. They slandered me without ceasing;
16 they impiously mocked more and more, gnashing at me with their teeth.	16 without respect they mocked me, gnashed their teeth against me.
17 How long, O LORD, wilt thou look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my life from the lions!	17 Lord, how long will you look on? Save me from roaring beasts, my precious life from lions!
18 Then I will thank thee in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise thee.	18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you before the mighty throng.
19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause.	19 Do not let lying foes smirk at me, my undeserved enemies wink knowingly.
20 For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they conceive words of deceit.	20 They speak no words of peace, but against the quiet in the land they fashion deceitful speech.
21 They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha! our eyes have seen it!"	21 They open wide their mouths against me. They say, "Aha! Good! Our eyes relish the sight!"
22 Thou hast seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!	22 You see this, LORD; do not be silent; Lord, do not withdraw from me.
23 Bestir thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and my Lord!	23 Awake, be vigilant in my defense, in my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me!	24 Defend me because you are just, LORD; my God, do not let them gloat over me.
25 Let them not say to themselves, "Aha, we have our heart's desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."	25 Do not let them say in their hearts, "Aha! Just what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have devoured that one!"
26 Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!	26 Put to shame and confound all who relish my misfortune. Clothe with shame and disgrace those who lord it over me.
27 Let those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad, and say evermore, "Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!"	27 But let those who favor my just cause shout for joy and be glad. May they ever say, "Exalted be the LORD who delights in the peace of his loyal servant."
28 Then my tongue shall tell of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.	28 Then my tongue shall recount your justice, declare your praise, all the day long.