Psalm 35

A Psalm of David.

1        Plead, Lord, with those that plead; and fight

                   with those that fight with me.

2        Of shield and buckler take thou hold,

                   stand up mine help to be.

3        Draw also out the spear, and do

                   against them stop the way

          That me pursue: unto my soul,

                   I'm thy salvation, say.

4        Let them confounded be and sham'd

                   that for my soul have sought:

          Who plot my hurt turn'd back be they,

                   and to confusion brought.

5        Let them be like unto the chaff

                   that flies before the wind;

          And let the angel of the Lord

                   pursue them hard behind.

6        With darkness cover thou their way,

                   and let it slipp'ry prove;

          And let the angel of the Lord

                   pursue them from above.

7        For without cause have they for me

                   their net hid in a pit,

          They also have without a cause

                   for my soul digged it.

8        Let ruin seize him unawares;

                   his net he hid withal

          Himself let catch; and in the same

                   destruction let him fall.

9        My soul in God shall joy; and glad

                   in his salvation be:

10      And all my bones shall say, O Lord,

                   who is like unto thee,

          Which dost the poor set free from him

                   that is for him too strong;

          The poor and needy from the man

                   that spoils and does him wrong?

11      False witnesses rose; to my charge

                   things I not knew they laid.

12      They, to the spoiling of my soul,

                   me ill for good repaid.

13      But as for me, when they were sick,

                   in sackcloth sad I mourn'd:

          My humbled soul did fast, my pray'r

                   into my bosom turn'd.

14      Myself I did behave as he

                   had been my friend or brother;

          I heavily bow'd down, as one

                   that mourneth for his mother.

15      But in my trouble they rejoic'd,

                   gath'ring themselves together;

          Yea, abjects vile together did

                   themselves against me gather:

          I knew it not; they did me tear,

                   and quiet would not be.

16      With mocking hypocrites, at feasts

                   they gnash'd their teeth at me.

 17     How long, Lord, look'st thou on? from those

                   destructions they intend

          Rescue my soul, from lions young

                   my darling do defend.

18      I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,

                   within th' assembly great;

          And where much people gather'd are

                   thy praises forth will set.

19      Let not my wrongful enemies

                   proudly rejoice o'er me;

          Nor who me hate without a cause,

                   let them wink with the eye.

20      For peace they do not speak at all;

                   but crafty plots prepare

          Against all those within the land

                   that meek and quiet are.

21      With mouths set wide, they 'gainst me said,

                   Ha, ha! our eye doth see.

22      Lord, thou hast seen, hold not thy peace;

                   Lord, be not far from me.

23      Stir up thyself; wake, that thou may'st

                   judgment to me afford,

          Ev'n to my cause, O thou that art

                   my only God and Lord.

24      O Lord my God, do thou me judge

                   after thy righteousness;

          And let them not their joy 'gainst me

                   triumphantly express:

25      Nor let them say within their hearts,

                   Ah, we would have it thus;

          Nor suffer them to say, that he

                   is swallow'd up by us.

26      Sham'd and confounded be they all

                   that at my hurt are glad;

          Let those against me that do boast

                   with shame and scorn be clad.

27      Let them that love my righteous cause

                   be glad, shout, and not cease

          To say, The Lord be magnify'd,

                   who loves his servant's peace.

28      Thy righteousness shall also be

                   declared by my tongue;

          The praises that belong to thee

                   speak shall it all day long.