Psalms 35

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that 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 stand up for mine help.	2 Take up the shield and buckler; rise up in my defense.
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.	3 Brandish lance and battle-ax against my pursuers. Say to my heart, "I am your salvation."
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.	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 as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.	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: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.	6 Make their way slippery and dark, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.	7 Without cause they set their snare for me; without cause they dug a pit for me.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.	8 Let ruin overtake them unawares; let the snare they have set catch them; let them fall into the pit they have dug.
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.	9 Then I will rejoice in the LORD, exult in God's salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth 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 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.	11 Malicious witnesses come forward, accuse me of things I do not know.
12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.	12 They repay me evil for good and I am all alone.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.	13 Yet I, when they were ill, put on sackcloth, afflicted myself with fasting, sobbed my prayers upon my bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.	14 I went about in grief as for my brother, bent in mourning as for my mother.
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:	15 Yet when I stumbled they gathered with glee, gathered against me like strangers. They slandered me without ceasing;
16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.	16 without respect they mocked me, gnashed their teeth against me.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.	17 Lord, how long will you look on? Save me from roaring beasts, my precious life from lions!
18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.	18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you before the mighty throng.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.	19 Do not let lying foes smirk at me, my undeserved enemies wink knowingly.
20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.	20 They speak no words of peace, but against the quiet in the land they fashion deceitful speech.
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.	21 They open wide their mouths against me. They say, "Aha! Good! Our eyes relish the sight!"
22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.	22 You see this, LORD; do not be silent; Lord, do not withdraw from me.
23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.	23 Awake, be vigilant in my defense, in my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge 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 in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: 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 ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that 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 them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity 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 And my tongue shall speak 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.