Psalm 35

1    Contend, O Lord, with those that contend with me;  

fight against those that fight against me.

2    Take up shield and buckler  

and rise up to help me.

3    Draw the spear and bar the way

    against those who pursue me;  

say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’

4    Let those who seek after my life be shamed and disgraced;  

let those who plot my ruin fall back and be put to confusion.

5    Let them be as chaff before the wind,  

with the angel of the Lord thrusting them down.

6    Let their way be dark and slippery,  

with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

7    For they have secretly spread a net for me without a cause;  

without any cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

8    Let ruin come upon them unawares;  

let them be caught in the net they laid;

    let them fall in it to their destruction.

9    Then will my soul be joyful in the Lord  

and glory in his salvation.

10  My very bones will say, ‘Lord, who is like you?  

You deliver the poor from those that are too strong for them,

    the poor and needy from those who would despoil them.’

11  False witnesses rose up against me;  

they charged me with things I knew not.

12  They rewarded me evil for good,  

to the desolation of my soul.

13  But as for me, when they were sick I put on sackcloth  

and humbled myself with fasting;

14  When my prayer returned empty to my bosom,  

it was as though I grieved for my friend or brother;

15  I behaved as one who mourns for his mother,  

bowed down and brought very low.

16  But when I stumbled, they gathered in delight;

    they gathered together against me;  

as if they were strangers I did not know

    they tore at me without ceasing.

17  When I fell they mocked me;  

they gnashed at me with their teeth.

18  O Lord, how long will you look on?  

Rescue my soul from their ravages,

    and my poor life from the young lions.

19  I will give you thanks in the great congregation;  

I will praise you in the mighty throng.

20  Do not let my treacherous foes rejoice over me,  

or those who hate me without a cause

    mock me with their glances.

21  For they do not speak of peace,  

but invent deceitful schemes against those that are quiet in the land.

22  They opened wide their mouths and derided me, saying  

‘We have seen it with our very eyes.’

23  This you have seen, O Lord; do not keep silent;  

go not far from me, O Lord.

24  Awake, arise, to my cause,  

to my defence, my God and my Lord!

25  Give me justice, O Lord my God,

    according to your righteousness;  

let them not triumph over me.

26  Let them not say to themselves,

    ‘Our heart’s desire!’  

Let them not say, ‘We have swallowed him up.’

27  Let all who rejoice at my trouble be put to shame and confusion;  

let those who boast against me

    be clothed with shame and dishonour.

28  Let those who favour my cause rejoice and be glad;  

let them say always,

    ‘Great is the Lord, who delights in his servant’s well-being.’

29  So shall my tongue be talking of your righteousness  

and of your praise all the day long.

 

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.

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