Psalm 35 - Modern English Version

A Psalm of David.

¹ Plead my cause, O  Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!

² Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me!

³ Draw the spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “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.

⁵ Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord drive them away.

⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.

⁷ For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, which they have dug without cause for my life.

⁸ Let destruction come upon him unawares, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall in it, to his destruction.

⁹ Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation.

¹⁰ All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

¹¹ Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things I do not know.

¹² They repay me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul.

¹³ But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart.

¹⁴ I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down lamenting, as one who mourns for his mother.

¹⁵ But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together; assailants gathered against me, and I did not know it; they tore me apart without ceasing;

¹⁶ with hypocritical mockers at feasts, they gnashed at me with their teeth.

¹⁷ Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!

¹⁸ I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You in the mighty throng.

¹⁹ Let not my treacherous enemies rejoice over me, nor let those who hate me without cause wink the eye.

²⁰ For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against those who are quiet in the land.

²¹ They opened wide their mouths against me, and said, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.”

²² This You have seen, O  Lord; do not be silent! O Lord, be not far from me!

²³ Stir up Yourself, and awake for my defense, for my cause, my God and my Lord!

²⁴ Vindicate me, O  Lord, my God, according to Your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.

²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, we have our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Let those who rejoice at my calamity be ashamed and brought to confusion; let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who exalt themselves against me.

²⁷ Let those who favor my vindication shout for joy and be glad; let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who delights in the peace of His servant.”

²⁸ Then my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all day long.