PSALM 35

LORD, battle with those who battle with me.

Fight against those who fight against me.

Pick up the shield and armor.

Rise up and help me.

Lift up your spears, both large and small,

against those who chase me.

Tell me, "I will save you."

Make those who want to kill me

be ashamed and disgraced.

Make those who plan to harm me

turn back and run away.

Make them like chaff blown by the wind

as the angel of the LORD forces them away.

Let their road be dark and slippery

as the angel of the LORD chases them.

For no reason they spread out their net to trap me;

for no reason they dug a pit for me.

So let ruin strike them suddenly.

Let them be caught in their own nets;

let them fall into the pit and die.

Then I will rejoice in the LORD;

I will be happy when he saves me.

Even my bones will say,

"LORD, who is like you?

 You save the weak from the strong,

 the weak and poor from robbers."

Men without mercy stand up to testify.

They ask me things I do not know.

They repay me with evil for the good I have done,

and they make me very sad.

Yet when they were sick, I put on clothes of sadness

and showed my sorrow by fasting.

But my prayers were not answered.

I acted as if they were my friends or brothers.

I bowed in sadness as if I were crying for my mother.

But when I was in trouble, they gathered and laughed;

they gathered to attack before I knew it.

They insulted me without stopping.

They made fun of me and were cruel to me

and ground their teeth at me in anger.

LORD, how long will you watch this happen?

Save my life from their attacks;

save me from these people who are like lions.

I will praise you in the great meeting.

I will praise you among crowds of people.

Do not let my enemies laugh at me;

they hate me for no reason.

Do not let them make fun of me;

they have no cause to hate me.

Their words are not friendly

but are lies about peace-loving people.

They speak against me

and say, "Aha! We saw what you did!"

LORD, you have been watching. Do not keep quiet.

LORD, do not leave me alone.

Wake up! Come and defend me!

My God and LORD, fight for me!

LORD my God, defend me with your justice.

Don't let them laugh at me.

Don't let them think, "Aha! We got what we wanted!"

Don't let them say, "We destroyed him."

Let them be ashamed and embarrassed,

because they were happy when I hurt.

Cover them with shame and disgrace,

because they thought they were better than I was.

May my friends sing and shout for joy.

May they always say, "Praise the greatness of the LORD,

who loves to see his servants do well."

I will tell of your goodness

and will praise you every day.