Psalms 35:2-22

²Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,

³And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, 'Thy salvation I am.'

⁴They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.

⁵They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.

⁶Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.

⁷For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.

⁸Meet him doth desolation — he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

⁹And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.

¹⁰All my bones say, 'Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.'

¹¹Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.

¹²They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,

¹³And I — in their sickness my clothing is sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.

¹⁴As if a friend, as if my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.

¹⁵And — 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;

¹⁶With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.

¹⁷Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.

¹⁸I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.

¹⁹Mine enemies rejoice not over me with falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.

²⁰For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,

²¹And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'

²²Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord — be not far from me,