Psalms 35

David's [song].

<1> Lord, oppose those who oppose me.

Fight those who fight me.

<2> Pick up the shield and buckler.[179]

Get up and help me.

<3> Take a spear and javelin

and fight those who are chasing me.

Tell my soul, "I will rescue you."

<4> Some people are trying to kill me.

Disappoint them and make them ashamed.

Make them turn and run away.

They are planning to hurt me.

Defeat them and embarrass them.

<5> Make them like chaff[180] blown by the wind.[181]

Let them be chased by the Lord's angel.

<6> Make their road dark and slippery.

Let the Lord's angel chase them.

<7> I did nothing wrong,

but they tried to trap me.

For no reason at all,

they tried to trap me.

<8> So let them fall into their own traps.

Let them stumble into their own nets.

Let some unknown danger catch them.

<9> Then I will rejoice in the Lord.

I will be happy when he saves me.

<10> With my whole self I will say,

"Lord, there is no one like you.

You protect the poor from those who are stronger.

You save the poor and helpless from those who try to rob them."

<11> A group of witnesses[182] are planning to hurt me.

They will ask me questions that I know nothing about.

<12> For the good I have done,

they repay me with evil.

They make me so very sad.

<13> When they were sick,

I was sad and wore sackcloth.[183]

I went without eating to show my sorrow.

(May my prayers for them not be answered!)

<14> I mourned for them as I would for a friend or a brother.

I bowed low with sadness, crying as I would for my own mother.

<15> But when I had troubles, they laughed at me.

They were not really friends.

I was surrounded and attacked

by people I didn't even know.

<16> They made fun of me, using the worst language.

They ground their teeth to show their anger.

<17> My Master, how long will you watch these bad things happen?

Those people are trying to destroy me.

Lord, save my life.

Save my dear life from those bad people.

They are like lions.

<18> I will praise you in the great assembly.

I will praise you among those many people.

<19> My lying enemies will not keep laughing.

They hate me without cause.

Surely they will be punished for their secret plans.[184]

<20> My enemies are not really

making plans for peace.

They are secretly making plans

to do bad things to the peaceful people in this country.

<21> My enemies are lying about me.

They say,

"Aha! We know what you are doing!"

<22> Lord, surely you can see what is happening.

So don't keep quiet.

Lord, don't leave me.

<23> Wake up! Get up!

My God and my Lord, fight for me, and bring me justice.

<24> Lord my God, judge me with your fairness.

Don't let those people laugh at me.

<25> Don't let them think, "Aha! We got what we wanted!"

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

<26> Let my enemies be ashamed and embarrassed-

all those who were happy about my troubles.

Proud of themselves, they treated me as worthless.

So let them be covered with shame and disgrace.

<27> To those who want the best for me,

I wish them joy and happiness.

May they always say,

"Praise the Lord who wants what is best for his servant."

<28> So, Lord, I will tell people how good you are.

I will praise you all day long.