Salmos 35

Psalm of David

¹ O Jehovah, defend me from those who attack me. Fight against those who fight against me.

² Use your shields, both small and large. Arise to help me.

³ Hold your spear to block the way of those who pursue me. Say to me: I am your salvation.

⁴ Let those who seek my life be put to shame and disgraced. Let those who plan my downfall be turned back in confusion.

⁵ Let them be like chaff blown by the wind as the angel of Jehovah chases them.

⁶ Let their path be dark and slippery as the angel of Jehovah pursues them.

⁷ They hid their net in a pit for no reason. They dug the pit to trap me for no reason.

⁸ Surprise them with destruction. Let the net that they hid catch them. Let them fall into their own pit and be destroyed.

⁹ I will find joy in Jehovah and be joyful about his salvation.

¹⁰ All my bones will say: »O Jehovah, who can compare with you? You rescue the weak person from the one who is too strong for him and weak and needy people from the one who robs them.«

¹¹ Violent witnesses bring charges against me. They ask me things I know nothing about.

¹² I am devastated because they pay me back with evil instead of good.

¹³ But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. I humbled myself with fasting. My prayer returned unanswered.

¹⁴ I walked around as if I were mourning for my friend or my brother. I was bent over as if I were mourning for my mother.

¹⁵ Yet, when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together. They gathered together against me. Unknown attackers tore me apart without stopping.

¹⁶ With godless and abusive mockers, they grit their teeth at me.

¹⁷ O Jehovah, how long will you observe? Rescue me from their attacks. Rescue my precious life from the lions.

¹⁸ I will give you thanks in the large congregation. I will praise you in a mighty crowd.

¹⁹ Do not let my treacherous enemies gloat over me. Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink maliciously.

²⁰ They do not talk about peace. Instead, they scheme against the peaceful people in the land.

²¹ They open their mouths against me and say: Aha! Aha! Our own eyes have seen it.

²² Now you see it, O Jehovah. Do not remain silent. O Jehovah, do not be so far away from me.

²³ Wake up, and rise to my defense. Plead my case, O my God Jehovah.

²⁴ Judge me by your righteousness, O Jehovah my God. Do not let them gloat.

²⁵ Do not let them say: Aha, just what we wanted! We have swallowed him up.

²⁶ Let those who gloat over my downfall be thoroughly put to shame and confused. Let those who promote themselves at my expense be clothed with shame and disgrace.

²⁷ Let those who are happy when I am declared innocent joyfully sing and rejoice. Let them continually say: »Jehovah is great. He is happy when his servant has peace.«

²⁸ My tongue will declare your righteousness and your praise all day long.