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Psalm 35

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

Of David.

Contend, O L ord, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me!

Take hold of shield and buckler,

and rise up to help me!

Draw the spear and javelin

against my pursuers;

say to my soul,

“I am your salvation.”

Let them be put to shame and dishonor

who seek after my life.

Let them be turned back and confounded

who devise evil against me.

Let them be like chaff before the wind,

with the angel of the L ord driving them on.

Let their way be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the L ord pursuing them.

For without cause they hid their net for me;

without cause they dug a pit for my life.

Let ruin come on them unawares.

And let the net that they hid ensnare them;

let them fall in it—to their ruin.

Then my soul shall rejoice in the L ord,

exulting in his deliverance.

All my bones shall say,

“O L ord, who is like you?

You deliver the weak

from those too strong for them,

the weak and needy from those who despoil them.”

Malicious witnesses rise up;

they ask me about things I do not know.

They repay me evil for good;

my soul is forlorn.

But as for me, when they were sick,

I wore sackcloth;

I afflicted myself with fasting.

I prayed with head bowed on my bosom,

as though I grieved for a friend or a brother;

I went about as one who laments for a mother,

bowed down and in mourning.

But at my stumbling they gathered in glee,

they gathered together against me;

ruffians whom I did not know

tore at me without ceasing;

they impiously mocked more and more,

gnashing at me with their teeth.

How long, O L ord, will you look on?

Rescue me from their ravages,

my life from the lions!

Then I will thank you in the great congregation;

in the mighty throng I will praise you.

Do not let my treacherous enemies rejoice over me,

or those who hate me without cause wink the eye.

For they do not speak peace,

but they conceive deceitful words

against those who are quiet in the land.

They open wide their mouths against me;

they say, “Aha, Aha,

our eyes have seen it.”

You have seen, O L ord; do not be silent!

O Lord, do not be far from me!

Wake up! Bestir yourself for my defense,

for my cause, my God and my Lord!

Vindicate me, O L ord, my God,

according to your righteousness,

and do not let them rejoice over me.

Do not let them say to themselves,

“Aha, we have our heart’s desire.”

Do not let them say, “We have swallowed you up.”

Let all those who rejoice at my calamity

be put to shame and confusion;

let those who exalt themselves against me

be clothed with shame and dishonor.

Let those who desire my vindication

shout for joy and be glad,

and say evermore,

“Great is the L ord,

who delights in the welfare of his servant.”

Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness

and of your praise all day long.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

11. Violent witnesses ⁷⁰⁹⁷⁰⁹ “עדי חמס witnesses of wrong or violence; i.e., witnesses deponing to acts of violence, as committed by the person accused. See Psalm 27:12.” — Horsley. rise up. The Hebrew is, they shall rise up; but in using the future tense, the Psalmist intimates that he is speaking of what he had suffered for a long time. And he complains that he was so oppressed with calumny that he had no opportunity of defending himself; than which nothing more grievous and painful can ever happen to those of an ingenuous mind, and who are conscious of no blame. Besides, he not only says that he had been falsely accused, but he also condemns the audacity and insolence of those who violently rose up to bear witness against him. To this belongs what he adds, They charge me with things which I know not. David then was not only spoiled of his worldly goods, and basely driven into exile, but was also accused and loaded with infamy under color of justice. Being involved in such distress, he resorted directly to God, hoping that he would maintain his innocence. So ought the children of God to walk through good report and bad report, and patiently suffer reproach, until he assert and declare their innocence from on high. In old times, it was a common proverb among the heathen, “There is no theater more beautiful than a good conscience;” and in this they uttered a noble sentiment; but no man can be sustained and supported by the purity of his conscience unless he has recourse to God.

⁷⁰⁹ “עדי חמס witnesses of wrong or violence; i.e., witnesses deponing to acts of violence, as committed by the person accused. See Psalm 27:12.” — Horsley.