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David wrote this song.

God, please help me

35 Lord , please attack those people who are attacking me.
Fight against those people who are fighting against me.
2 Yes, pick up your shield
and put on your armour!
Prepare to fight and give me help!
3 Take your spears and throw them,
to stop the people who are chasing me.
Say to me, ‘I will make you safe.’

4 Cause the people who want to kill me
to become ashamed.
Chase away the people who want to hurt me,
so that they become confused.
5 Make them become like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Send the angel of the Lord
to chase them away.
6 Make their way dark and dangerous,
as the angel of the Lord chases after them.
7 They hid a trap to catch me.
There was no reason for them to do that.
They even dug a deep hole for me to fall into.
8 Surprise my enemies and destroy them!
Let their own traps catch them!
Let them fall to their own death!
9 Then I will be happy
because of what the Lord has done.
I will be happy
because he has made me safe.
10 I will shout with all my strength,
‘ Lord , who is like you?
When strong people try to hurt weak people,
you are the one who keeps the weak people safe.
You also keep poor people safe
when robbers try to take things from them.’
11 Cruel people tell lies against me in court.
I do not even know what they are talking about.
12 When I do good things to help them,
they pay me back with evil things!
That makes me feel very sad and upset.
13 When they were ill,
I wore rough clothes,
and I stopped eating food.
I bent down my head as I prayed for them.
14 I wept as I prayed,
as I would weep when a friend or my mother had died.
15 But when I had troubles myself,
they were happy.
They stood together
and they laughed at me.
Even strangers attacked me
and they would not stop.
16 Useless people like that insulted me,
and they showed their teeth to frighten me.
17 My Lord, how long will you continue to watch
as they do this to me?
Keep me safe when they attack me.
They attack me like hungry lions.
Do not let them kill me!
18 Then I will praise you
in the great meeting of your people.
I will thank you so that everyone hears me.

19 My enemies tell lies about me.
Do not let them win against me,
and be happy.
They have no reason to hate me,
so do not let them laugh at me.
20 They do not talk in a way that brings peace.
Instead, they try to deceive people who want to live quietly.
21 They open their mouths wide
to speak against me.
They say, ‘Aha! [ a ]
We have seen the bad things that you do!’
22 Lord , you have seen all this.
Do not remain silent, my Lord.
Do not stay far away from me.
23 Wake up! Get ready to give me justice!
Show that I am not guilty,
my Lord and my God.
24 Lord , you are righteous.
Give me justice, my God.
Do not let them laugh at me.
25 Do not let them say,
‘Aha! This is what we wanted.’
Do not let them say,
‘We have eaten him alive!’
26 Punish those people who are happy when I have troubles.
Make them ashamed and confused!
Bring down those proud people who laugh at me.
Make them feel very ashamed.
27 But for those who want justice for me,
let them shout aloud in their pleasure.
May they always say, ‘The Lord is great!
He is happy when his servant is safe and well!’
28 Then I will tell everyone that you are righteous.
I will praise you all through each day.

Footnotes

  1. 35:21 ‘Aha’ shows that they are laughing at David. They think that they are better than he is.

A song of David.

35 Lord , oppose those who oppose me.
Fight those who fight me.
2 Pick up your shields, large and small.
Get up and help me!
3 Take a spear and javelin
and fight those who are chasing me.
Tell me, “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 and embarrass them.
5 Make them like chaff blown by the wind. [ a ]
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 dug a pit to catch 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 There are witnesses [ b ] trying to harm me.
They ask me questions that I know nothing about.
12 They pay me back evil for the good I have done.
They make me so very sad.
13 When they were sick, I was sad and wore sackcloth.
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 Lord, how long will you watch this happen?
Save my life from these people
who are attacking me like lions and trying to destroy me.

18 I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will praise you there among the crowds.
19 Don’t let my lying enemies keep on laughing at me.
They have no reason to hate me.
Surely they will be punished for their secret plans. [ c ]
20 They have no friendly words for others,
but plan ways to hurt those who want to live in peace.
21 They are telling lies about me.
They say, “Aha! We know what you did!”
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.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:5 wind This may be a wordplay, because the Hebrew word also means “spirit.”
  2. Psalm 35:11 witnesses People who tell what they have seen or heard. Here, these people were probably telling lies.
  3. Psalm 35:19 Surely … plans Literally, “Will the people who hate me freely wink their eyes?”

35 Plead my cause, O Lord , with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord : it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, Lord , who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against 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, O Lord : keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

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

26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

A Psalm of David.

35 Contend, Lord , with those who ( A ) contend with me;
Fight against those who ( B ) fight against me.
2 Take hold of [ a ] ( C ) buckler and shield
And rise up as ( D ) my help.
3 Draw also the spear and [ b ] the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me;
Say to my soul, “I am ( E ) your salvation.”
4 Let those be ( F ) ashamed and dishonored who seek my [ c ] life;
Let those be ( G ) turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.
5 Let them be ( H ) like chaff before the wind,
With the angel of the Lord driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and ( I ) slippery,
With the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 For ( J ) they ( K ) hid their net for me without cause;
Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let ( L ) destruction come upon him when he is unaware,
And ( M ) let the net which he hid catch him;
Let him fall into that very ( N ) destruction.

9 So my soul shall ( O ) rejoice in the Lord ;
It shall ( P ) rejoice in His salvation.
10 All my ( Q ) bones will say, “ Lord , ( R ) who is like You,
Who rescues the afflicted from one ( S ) who is too strong for him,
And ( T ) the afflicted and the poor from one who robs him?”
11 ( U ) Malicious witnesses rise up;
They ask me things that I do not know.
12 They ( V ) repay me evil for good,
To the bereavement of my soul.
13 But as for me, ( W ) when they were sick, my ( X ) clothing was sackcloth;
I ( Y ) humbled my soul with fasting,
But my ( Z ) prayer kept returning to [ d ] me.
14 I went about as though it were my friend or brother;
I ( AA ) bowed down [ e ] in mourning, like one who mourns for a mother.
15 But ( AB ) at my [ f ] stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together;
The [ g ] ( AC ) afflicted people whom I did not know gathered together against me,
They [ h ] ( AD ) slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like godless jesters at a feast,
They ( AE ) gnashed at me with their teeth.

17 Lord, ( AF ) how long will You look on?
Rescue my soul ( AG ) from their ravages,
My ( AH ) only life from the lions.
18 I will ( AI ) give You thanks in the great congregation;
I will ( AJ ) praise You among a mighty people.
19 ( AK ) Do not let those who are wrongfully ( AL ) my enemies rejoice over me;
Nor let those ( AM ) who hate me for no reason [ i ] ( AN ) wink maliciously.
20 For they do not speak peace,
But they devise ( AO ) deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
21 They ( AP ) opened their mouth wide against me;
They said, “ ( AQ ) Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it!”

22 ( AR ) You have seen it, Lord , ( AS ) do not keep silent;
Lord, ( AT ) do not be far from me.
23 ( AU ) Stir Yourself, and awake to my right
And to my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 ( AV ) Judge me, Lord my God, according to Your righteousness,
And ( AW ) do not let them rejoice over me.
25 Do not let them say in their heart, “ ( AX ) Aha, our desire!”
Do not let them say, “We have ( AY ) swallowed him up!”
26 May ( AZ ) those be ashamed and altogether humiliated who rejoice at my distress;
May those who ( BA ) exalt themselves over me be ( BB ) clothed with shame and dishonor.

27 May those ( BC ) shout for joy and rejoice, who take delight in ( BD ) my vindication;
And ( BE ) may they say continually, “The Lord be exalted,
Who ( BF ) delights in the prosperity of His servant.”
28 And ( BG ) my tongue shall proclaim Your righteousness
And Your praise all day long.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:2 I.e., small shield
  2. Psalm 35:3 Or close up the path against those
  3. Psalm 35:4 Or soul
  4. Psalm 35:13 Lit my chest
  5. Psalm 35:14 Or dressed for mourning
  6. Psalm 35:15 Or limping
  7. Psalm 35:15 Or struck ones
  8. Psalm 35:15 Lit tore
  9. Psalm 35:19 Or wink the eye

Psalm 35

Of David.

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

4 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.
5 May they be like chaff ( M ) before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord ( N ) driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

7 Since they hid their net ( O ) for me without cause ( P )
and without cause dug a pit ( Q ) for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— ( R )
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, ( S ) to their ruin.
9 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,
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