Psalm 35

Melody

Harmony

Strive, LORD, with those who strive with me,
and fight my fight to set me free.
Take shield and buckler, rise in splendour;
come to my aid, be my defender.
Draw out the spear and bar the way
of those who seek me as their prey.
Speak now the reassuring word
that you are my salvation, LORD.
Let those be humbled in disgrace
who seek my life, whose threats I face.
Let those by whom I now am hounded
retreat in shame and be confounded.
Foiled be the mischief they intend;
may they be chaff before the wind,
and may the Angel of the LORD
pursue them with his glittering sword.
Their path be slippery, dark with woe,
the Angel of the LORD their foe.
They without cause together banded
to hide a net for me intended.
They tried to trap me in a pit;
may they themselves fall into it.
Let ruin seize them unawares;
may they be caught in their own snares.
Then I will in the LORD rejoice
and praise him with a thankful voice.
With songs and shouts of exultation
I will delight in his salvation.
With all my being I will cry,
“Who is like you, O LORD Most High –
you who deliver those in need
from their oppressor’s power and greed?”
Malicious witnesses arise;
they question me and utter lies.
With evil they for good repay me.
I am perplexed. They seek to slay me.
Yet I was grieved when they were sick;
their sorrows hurt me to the quick.
I went in sackcloth and would fast;
I bowed in prayer, my eyes downcast.
My heart was sad as for a friend;
I mourned, my mantle I would rend
as one who sorrows for a brother
and who with grief laments his mother.
But when I stumbled, they rejoiced;
gathering around, their hate they voiced,
and wretches whom I did not know
mocked me and gloried in my woe.
Unceasingly they scoff and jeer;
they gnash their teeth at me and sneer.
O LORD, how long yet will this rabble
abuse me with their godless babble?
O from these lions rescue me!
Then, praising you who set me free,
I’ll in the great assembly bless
your mercy and your faithfulness.
Let enemies who scheme and lie
not smirk at me and wink the eye,
for without reason they accuse me.
Those who so wrongfully abuse me
do not speak peace, for they intend
to harm the quiet in the land.
I hear those loudmouths falsely claim:
“We’ve seen that you have cause for shame.”
LORD, you have heard and seen this all;
do not be silent as I call,
nor stand aloof, O my Defender!
Wake up, arise, and justice render!
Contend for me, my God and LORD,
and give my foes their due reward.
O LORD my God, grant me redress
according to your righteousness.
Let them not say, “Yes, we have won.
We’ve swallowed him; he is undone!”
Those who against me are assembled
be shamed, by their confusion humbled,
and let all victory be denied
to those puffed up with boasting pride.
Let all who gloat at my expense
be clothed with shame as recompense.
May those rejoice with shout and song
who for my vindication long,
and may they praise with happy voices
the LORD, who in my good rejoices.
Let them repeat how great he is
and laud his perfect righteousness.
Then my tongue, too, with word and song
will praise his justice all day long.