The Book of Psalms

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 35 -

Fight with my adversaries

A Psalme of Dauid. Pleade thou my cause, O Lord, with them that striue with me: fight thou against them, that fight against me.

Lay hand vpon the shielde and buckler, and stand vp for mine helpe.

Bring out also the speare and stop the way against them, that persecute me: say vnto my soule, I am thy saluation.

Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seeke after my soule: let them be turned backe, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.

Let them be as chaffe before the winde, and let the Angel of the Lord scatter them.

Let their way be darke and slipperie: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.

For without cause they haue hid the pit and their net for me: without cause haue they digged a pit for my soule.

Let destruction come vpon him at vnwares, and let his net, that he hath laid priuilie, take him: let him fall into the same destruction.

Then my soule shalbe ioyfull in the Lord: it shall reioyce in his saluation.

All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like vnto thee, which deliuerest the poore from him, that is too strong for him! yea, the poore and him that is in miserie, from him that spoyleth him!

Cruell witnesses did rise vp: they asked of me things that I knewe not.

They rewarded me euill for good, to haue spoyled my soule.

Yet I, when they were sicke, I was clothed with a sacke: I humbled my soule with fasting: and my praier was turned vpon my bosome.

I behaued my selfe as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled my selfe, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother.

But in mine aduersitie they reioyced, and gathered them selues together: the abiects assembled themselues against me, and knewe not: they tare me and ceased not,

With the false skoffers at bankets, gnashing their teeth against me.

Lord, how long wilt thou beholde this? deliuer my soule from their tumult, euen my desolate soule from the lions.

So will I giue thee thankes in a great Congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

Let not them that are mine enemies, vniustly reioyce ouer mee, neyther let them winke with the eye, that hate mee without a cause.

For they speake not as friendes: but they imagine deceitfull woordes against the quiet of the lande.

And they gaped on mee with their mouthes, saying, Aha, aha, our eye hath seene.

Thou hast seene it, O Lord: keepe not silence: be not farre from me, O Lord.

Arise and wake to my iudgement, euen to my cause, my God, and my Lord.

Iudge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousnesse, and let them not reioyce ouer mee.

Let them not say in their hearts, O our soule reioyce: neither let them say, We haue deuoured him.

Let them bee confounded, and put to shame together, that reioyce at mine hurt: let them bee clothed with confusion and shame, that lift vp themselues against me.

But let them be ioyful and glad, that loue my righteousnesse: yea, let them say alway, Let the Lord be magnified, which loueth the prosperitie of his seruant.

And my tongue shall vtter thy righteousnesse, and thy praise euery day.

Fight with my adversaries

Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

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

Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”

Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

Let them be as chaff before the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on.

Let their way be dark and slippery, the LORD’s angel pursuing them.

For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.

My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”

Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.

They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.

I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.

Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.

Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.

For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”

You have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.

Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!

Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.

Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.

Let those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May The LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”

My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.