Psalms 35

1 Judge those who wrong me, Lord; fight those who fight me.

2 Take hold of weapon and shield, and rise to help me.

3 Draw a sword and block the way of those who pursue me. Say to my soul,

“I am your rescue.”

4 Let those who seek my life be ashamed and disgraced; let those planning evil against me turn back and be put to shame.

5 Let them become like dust before the wind, with the Lord’s messenger afflicting them.

6 Let their way become dark and slippery, with the Lord’s messenger pursuing them.

7 They hid their destructive trap for me without cause; they reproached my soul for nothing.

8 Let a trap they do not know come upon them. Let the snare they hid catch them, and let them fall into that very trap.

9 But my soul will celebrate in the Lord and delight in his rescue.

10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you? You rescue the poor from the hand of those stronger than they are, and the poor and needy from those who plunder them.”

11 Unjust witnesses rose and questioned me about things I did not know.

12 They repaid me evil for good and made my soul childless.

13 But when they troubled me, I put on sackcloth and humbled my soul with fasting; my prayer will return to my own chest.

14 I treated them kindly as I would a neighbor, as I would one of our own brothers; I humbled myself like someone mourning with a gloomy face.

15 Yet they rejoiced against me and gathered together. Scourges gathered against me, though I did not know it. They were torn apart but felt no remorse.

16 They tested me and mocked me cruelly; they gnashed their teeth at me.

17 Lord, when will you look? Restore my soul from their malice, my only life from the lions.

18 I will give thanks to you in a great assembly; among a mighty people I will praise you.

19 Do not let those who are unjustly my enemies rejoice over me, or those who hate me without cause wink their eyes.

20 They spoke peacefully to me, but in anger they devised deceit.

21 They opened their mouths wide against me and said,

“Aha! Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”

22 You saw it, Lord. Do not remain silent; Lord, do not stand far from me.

23 Wake up, Lord, and pay attention to my judgment—to my case, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me according to your righteousness, Lord my God, and do not let them rejoice over me.

25 Do not let them say in their hearts, “Aha! This pleases us!” Do not let them say, “We swallowed him.”

26 Let those who rejoice at my troubles be ashamed and disgraced together. Let those who boast against me be clothed with shame and disgrace.

27 Let those who desire my righteousness celebrate and rejoice. Let those who desire peace for his servant always say, “May the Lord be magnified!”

28 My tongue will meditate on your righteousness and praise you all day.