Psalms 35:11-26

¹¹Hostile witnesses stand up to testify against me, accusing me of crimes I don't know anything about.

¹²They pay me back with evil instead of good. I feel like giving up.

¹³But when they were sick, I put on clothes of sackcloth in sympathy. I denied myself through fasting. May my prayer for them return to bless me too.

¹⁴I was upset for them, as if they were my own friends or family; I bowed down in grief as if I was mourning my own mother.

¹⁵But when I was in trouble, they gathered around and laughed at me. Even strangers I don't know attacked me, constantly tearing me apart.

¹⁶Like irreligious people mocking a cripple they mock me and call me names, gnashing their teeth at me.

¹⁷How long, Lord, will you sit by and just watch? Save me from their vicious attacks; defend the only life I have from these lions.

¹⁸Then I will thank you in front of the whole congregation and praise you in front of all the people.

¹⁹Don't let my enemies take pleasure in my troubles, those people who hate me and tell lies about me, gloating over me for no reason.

²⁰They are not looking for peace; they invent malicious and deceptive schemes against innocent peace-loving people.

²¹They open their mouths wide to make accusations against me, saying, “Look! Look! We saw it with our own eyes!”

²²But Lord, you've seen all this! Say something! Don't give up on me, Lord!

²³Wake up! Get up and defend me, my Lord and my God! Take up my case and make sure justice is done!

²⁴Vindicate me, my Lord and my God, because you are just and right. Don't let them gloat over me.

²⁵Don't let them say to themselves, “Look! We got what we wanted!” Don't let them say, “We completely destroyed him!”

²⁶Make them totally ashamed, all those who are happy for the trouble I'm in. Let those who are celebrating over me be covered with shame and dishonor.