Psalms 35:1-14

Psalm 35

By David.

35:1 O Lord, fight those who fight with me!

Attack those who attack me!

35:2 Grab your small shield and large shield,

and rise up to help me!

35:3 Use your spear and lance against those who chase me!

Assure me with these words: “I am your deliverer!”

35:4 May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated!

May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed!

35:5 May they be like wind-driven chaff,

as the Lord’s angel attacks them!

35:6 May their path be dark and slippery,

as the Lord’s angel chases them!

35:7 I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me

and dug a pit to trap me.

35:8 Let destruction take them by surprise!

Let the net they hid catch them!

Let them fall into destruction!

35:9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord

and be happy because of his deliverance.

35:10 With all my strength I will say,

“O Lord, who can compare to you?

You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them;

the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.”

35:11 Violent men perjure themselves,

and falsely accuse me.

35:12 They repay me evil for the good I have done;

I am overwhelmed with sorrow.

35:13 When they were sick, I wore sackcloth,

and refrained from eating food.

(If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!)

35:14 I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother.

I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother.