Add parallel Print Page Options

35 (Of Dovid) Contend, Hashem, with them that contend with me; fight against them that fight against me.

Take hold of mogen and tzinnah (large shield) and arise to my aid.

Draw out also the khanit (spear), and block the way against them that persecute me; say unto my nefesh, I am Thy Yeshuah (salvation).

Let them be put to shame and disgraced that seek after my nefesh; let a rout in retreat be theirs and let them be brought to dismay that plot my ruin.

Let them be like motz (chaff) before the ruach; and let the Malach Hashem drive them away.

Let their derech be choshech and slippery; and let the Malach Hashem pursue them.

For without cause have they hid for me their reshet (net) in a shachat (pit), which without cause they dug for my nefesh.

Let sho’ah (disaster) come upon him unawares; and let his own reshet (net) that he hath hid ensnare him; into that very sho’ah let him fall.

And my nefesh shall rejoice in Hashem; it shall be joyful in His Yeshuah (salvation).

10 All my atzmot shall say, Hashem, mi khamocha (who is like Thee), Who deliverest the oni (poor) from him that is too strong for him, yes, the oni and the evyon (needy) from him that despoileth him?

11 Edei chamas (witnesses of violence, false witnesses) rise up; they lay to my charge things, questioning me of that which I have no da’as.

12 They repay me ra’ah for tovah to the forlornness of my nefesh.

13 But as for me, when they were choleh (ill), my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my nefesh with tzom (fasting); and my tefillah (prayer) turned back on mine own kheyk (bosom).

14 I went about as though he had been my re’a or ach; I bowed in sadness, as one that mourneth for his em.

15 But at mine stumbling they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together; yes, the attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I had no da’as; they did tear at me [with slander], and ceased not:

16 Like chanef (hypocritical) mockers at cake, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Adonoi, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my nefesh from their destructions, my yechidah (only one, my life) from the lions.

18 I will give Thee thanks in the kahal rav (great congregation); I will praise Thee among the mighty throng.

19 Let not them that are mine oyevim gloat over me; neither let them wink with the eye that have sinas chinom (baseless hatred) toward me.

20 For they speak not shalom, but they scheme divrei mirmot (deceitful matters) against the rigei eretz (them that are quiet in the land).

21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22 This Thou hast seen, Hashem; keep not silent; Adonoi, be not far from me.

23 Stir up Thyself, and awake to my mishpat, even to my cause, Elohai and Adonoi.

24 Vindicate me, Hashem Elohai, according to Thy tzedakah; and let them not gloat over me.

25 Let them not say in their lev, Ah, so would we have it; let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26 Let them be put to shame and brought to confusion together that gloat at mine ra’ah (disaster, distress); let them be clothed with boshet (shame) and kelimah (dishonor, disgrace) that exalt themselves against me.

27 Let them sing for joy, and be glad, that favor my tzedek (righteousness, vindication); yes, let them say tamid (continually), Let Hashem be magnified, which hath pleasure in the shalom (welfare) of His eved.

28 And my leshon (tongue) shall speak of Thy tzedek (righteousness) and of Thy tehillah (praise) kol hayom (all the day).

Psalm 35

Of David.

Contend,(A) Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight(B) against those who fight against me.
Take up shield(C) and armor;
    arise(D) and come to my aid.(E)
Brandish spear(F) and javelin[a](G)
    against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
    “I am your salvation.(H)

May those who seek my life(I)
    be disgraced(J) and put to shame;(K)
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back(L) in dismay.
May they be like chaff(M) before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord(N) driving them away;
may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

Since they hid their net(O) for me without cause(P)
    and without cause dug a pit(Q) for me,
may ruin overtake them by surprise—(R)
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit,(S) to their ruin.
Then my soul will rejoice(T) in the Lord
    and delight in his salvation.(U)
10 My whole being will exclaim,
    “Who is like you,(V) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong(W) for them,
    the poor and needy(X) from those who rob them.”

11 Ruthless witnesses(Y) come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(Z)
    and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(AA)
    and humbled myself with fasting.(AB)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14     I went about mourning(AC)
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;(AD)
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered(AE) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[b](AF)
    they gnashed their teeth(AG) at me.

17 How long,(AH) Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life(AI) from these lions.(AJ)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(AK)
    among the throngs(AL) I will praise you.(AM)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies(AN) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(AO)
    maliciously wink the eye.(AP)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations(AQ)
    against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer(AR) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!(AS)
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

22 Lord, you have seen(AT) this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far(AU) from me, Lord.
23 Awake,(AV) and rise(AW) to my defense!
    Contend(AX) for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat(AY) over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha,(AZ) just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”(BA)

26 May all who gloat(BB) over my distress(BC)
    be put to shame(BD) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me(BE)
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication(BF)
    shout for joy(BG) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights(BH) in the well-being of his servant.”(BI)

28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,(BJ)
    your praises all day long.(BK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way
  2. Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,