Chapter 35

  By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,  

--

  Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,  

--

  And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, 'Thy salvation I [am].'  

--

  They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.  

--

  They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.  

--

  Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.  

--

  For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.  

--

  Meet him doth desolation -- he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.  

--

  And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.  

--

  All my bones say, 'Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.'  

--

  Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.  

--

  They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,  

--

  And I -- in their sickness my clothing [is] sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.  

--

  As [if] a friend, as [if] my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.  

--

  And -- in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;  

--

  With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.  

--

  Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.  

--

  I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.  

--

  Mine enemies rejoice not over me [with] falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.  

--

  For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,  

--

  And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'  

--

  Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord -- be not far from me,  

--

  Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.  

--

  Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.  

--

  They do not say in their heart, 'Aha, our desire.' They do not say, 'We swallowed him up.'  

--

  They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me.  

--

  They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, 'Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.'  

--

  And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!  

--