Psalms 35

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 [Of David] Accuse my accusers, Yahweh, attack my attackers.	1 Of David. Oppose, LORD, those who oppose me; war upon those who make war upon me.
2 Grasp your buckler and shield, up, and help me.	2 Take up the shield and buckler; rise up in my defense.
3 Brandish spear and pike to confront my pursuers, give me the assurance, 'I am your Saviour.'	3 Brandish lance and battle-ax against my pursuers. Say to my heart, "I am your salvation."
4 Shame and humiliation on those who are out to kil me! Defeat and repulse in dismay on those whoplot my downfal .	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 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of Yahweh to chase them.	5 Make them like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on.
6 May their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of Yahweh to hound them.	6 Make their way slippery and dark, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 Unprovoked they laid their snare for me, unprovoked dug a trap to kill me.	7 Without cause they set their snare for me; without cause they dug a pit for me.
8 Ruin comes upon them unawares; the snare they have laid wil catch them, and into their own trapthey will fal .	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 I shal delight in Yahweh, rejoice that he has saved me.	9 Then I will rejoice in the LORD, exult in God's salvation.
10 My very bones wil al exclaim, Yahweh, who can compare with you in rescuing the poor from theoppressor; the needy from the exploiter?	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 False witnesses come forward against me asking me questions I cannot answer, they cross-examineme,	11 Malicious witnesses come forward, accuse me of things I do not know.
12 repay my kindness with cruelty, make my life barren.	12 They repay me evil for good and I am all alone.
13 But I, when they were il , had worn sackcloth, and mortified myself with fasting, praying ever anew inmy heart,	13 Yet I, when they were ill, put on sackcloth, afflicted myself with fasting, sobbed my prayers upon my bosom.
14 as if for a friend or brother; I had wandered restless, as if mourning a mother, so bowed had I been insorrow.	14 I went about in grief as for my brother, bent in mourning as for my mother.
15 When I stumble they gather in glee, gather around me; strangers I never even knew tear me apartincessantly.	15 Yet when I stumbled they gathered with glee, gathered against me like strangers. They slandered me without ceasing;
16 If I fal they surround me, grinding their teeth at me.	16 without respect they mocked me, gnashed their teeth against me.
17 How much longer, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their onslaughts, from young lions rescuethe one life that I have.	17 Lord, how long will you look on? Save me from roaring beasts, my precious life from lions!
18 I wil give you thanks in the great assembly praise you where the people gather.	18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you before the mighty throng.
19 Let not my lying enemies gloat over me; those who hate me unprovoked look askance at me.	19 Do not let lying foes smirk at me, my undeserved enemies wink knowingly.
20 They have no greeting of peace to the peace-loving people of the land; they think up deceptivespeeches.	20 They speak no words of peace, but against the quiet in the land they fashion deceitful speech.
21 Their mouths wide open to accuse me, they say, 'Come on now, we saw you.'	21 They open wide their mouths against me. They say, "Aha! Good! Our eyes relish the sight!"
22 You saw it, Yahweh, do not stay silent; Lord, do not stand aloof from me.	22 You see this, LORD; do not be silent; Lord, do not withdraw from me.
23 Up, awake, to my defence, my God and my Lord, to my cause.	23 Awake, be vigilant in my defense, in my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 In your saving justice give judgement for me, Yahweh my God, and do not let them gloat over me.	24 Defend me because you are just, LORD; my God, 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.'	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 Shame and dismay on them al who gloat over my misfortunes. Let al who profit at my expense becovered with shame and disgrace.	26 Put to shame and confound all who relish my misfortune. Clothe with shame and disgrace those who lord it over me.
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.'	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 And my tongue shal recount your saving justice, al day long sing your praise.	28 Then my tongue shall recount your justice, declare your praise, all the day long.