(KJV) Psalm 35¹

⥃Contend with My Opponents, O LORD

[A Psalm] of David.

[1] Plead² [my cause], O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight³ against them that fight against me.⁴ [2] Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.⁵ [3] Draw out also the spear, and stop⁶ [the way] against them that persecute me: say⁷ unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation. [4] Let them be confounded⁸ and put to shame that⁹ seek after my soul: let them be turned¹⁰ back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. [5] Let them be as chaff¹¹ before the wind: and¹² let the angel of the Lord chase [them]. [6] Let their¹³ way be dark and slippery¹⁴: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them. [7] For without¹⁵ cause have they hid¹⁶ for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul. [8] Let destruction¹⁷ come upon him at unawares¹⁸; and let his net¹⁹ that he hath hid catch himself: into²⁰ that very destruction let him fall. [9] And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.²¹ [10] All²² my bones shall say, Lord, who²³ [is] like unto thee, which²⁴ deliverest the poor from him that is too²⁵ strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? [11] False witnesses²⁶ did rise up; they laid²⁷ to my charge [things] that I knew not. [12] They²⁸ rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling²⁹ of my soul³⁰. [13] But as for me, when³¹ they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled³² my soul with fasting; and my prayer³³ returned into mine own bosom. [14] I behaved³⁴ myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one³⁵ that mourneth [for his] mother. [15] But in mine³⁶ adversity³⁷ they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects³⁸ gathered themselves together against me, and I knew³⁹ [it] not; they⁴⁰ did tear [me], and ceased not: [16] With hypocritical⁴¹ mockers in feasts, they gnashed⁴² upon me with their teeth. [17] Lord, how⁴³ long wilt thou look⁴⁴ on? rescue⁴⁵ my soul from their destructions, my darling⁴⁶ from the lions. [18] I will give⁴⁷ thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise⁴⁸ thee among much⁴⁹ people. [19] Let⁵⁰ not them that are mine enemies wrongfully⁵¹ rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink⁵² with the eye that hate⁵³ me without a cause. [20] For⁵⁴ they speak not peace: but⁵⁵ they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet⁵⁶ in the land. [21] Yea⁵⁷, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha⁵⁸, aha, our eye hath seen [it]. [22] [This⁵⁹] thou hast seen, O Lord: keep⁶⁰ not silence: O Lord, be⁶¹ not far from me. [23] Stir⁶² up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] unto my cause, my God⁶³ and my Lord. [24] Judge⁶⁴ me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let⁶⁵ them not rejoice over me. [25] Let them not say⁶⁶ in their hearts, Ah⁶⁷, so⁶⁸ would we have⁶⁹ it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. [26] Let them be ashamed⁷⁰ and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed⁷¹ with shame and dishonour that magnify⁷² [themselves] against me. [27] Let them shout⁷³ for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause⁷⁴: yea, let them say⁷⁵ continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which⁷⁶ 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. ⁷⁷