Prayer for Victory
Of David.
1 Oppose my opponents, Lord;
fight those who fight me. 35:1 Ex 14:25; Is 49:25
2 Take your shields — large and small —
and come to my aid. 35:2 Ps 5:12; 91:4
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers,
and assure me, "I am your deliverance." 35:3 Ps 13:5; 40:17
4 Let those who intend to take my life
be disgraced and humiliated;
let those who plan to harm me
be turned back and ashamed. 35:4 Ps 40:14; 70:2; 129:5
5 Let them be like chaff in the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away. 35:5 Jb 21:18; Ps 83:13; Is 29:5
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 35:6 Ps 73:18; Jr 23:12
7 They hid their net for me without cause;
they dug a pit for me without cause. 35:7 Ps 140:5
8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly,
and let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it — to his ruin. 35:8 Jb 18:8; Ps 7:15
9 Then I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will delight in his deliverance. 35:9 Ps 9:14; 13:5
10 All my bones will say,
"Lord, who is like you, 35:10 Ex 15:11; Ps 86:8; Mc 7:18
rescuing the poor from one too strong for him,
the poor or the needy from one who robs him? " 35:10 Ps 72:12; 82:4
11 Malicious witnesses come forward;
they question me about things I do not know. 35:11 Ps 27:12; Pr 19:5,9
12 They repay me evil for good,
making me desolate. 35:12 Ps 38:20; 109:5; Jr 18:20
13 Yet when they were sick,
my clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting,
and my prayer was genuine. 35:13 Lit prayer returned to my chest, 35:13 Ps 69:10–11
14 I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother;
I was bowed down with grief,
like one mourning for a mother. 35:14 Ps 38:6
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
they gathered against me.
Assailants I did not know
tore at me and did not stop. 35:15 Jb 30:1,8,12; Ob 12
16 With godless mockery 35:16 Hb obscure
they gnashed their teeth at me. 35:16 Jb 16:9; Ps 37:12; Lm 2:16
17 Lord, how long will you look on? 35:17 Ps 13:1; Hab 1:13
Rescue me from their ravages;
rescue my precious life from the young lions. 35:17 Ps 22:20–21
18 I will praise you in the great assembly;
I will exalt you among many people. 35:18 Ps 22:22,25; 40:9–10; Heb 2:12
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me;
do not let those who hate me without cause 35:19 Ps 38:19; Jn 15:25
wink at me maliciously. 35:19 Ps 13:4; 30:1; 38:16
20 For they do not speak in friendly ways,
but contrive fraudulent schemes 35:20 Lit but devise fraudulent words
against those who live peacefully in the land. 35:20 Ps 55:21; Jr 9:8; Mc 6:12
21 They open their mouths wide against me and say,
"Aha, aha! We saw it! " 35:21 Lit Our eyes saw!, 35:21 Jb 16:10; Ps 22:13; 40:15; 70:3
22 You saw it, Lord; do not be silent.
Lord, do not be far from me. 35:22 Ps 10:1; 22:11; 28:1
23 Wake up and rise to my defense,
to my cause, my God and my Lord! 35:23 Ps 7:6; 44:23; 59:4
24 Vindicate me, Lord my God,
in keeping with your righteousness,
and do not let them rejoice over me. 35:24 Ps 26:1; 43:1
25 Do not let them say in their hearts,
"Aha! Just what we wanted."
Do not let them say,
"We have swallowed him up! " 35:25 Ps 124:3; Lm 2:16
26 Let those who rejoice at my misfortune
be disgraced and humiliated;
let those who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and reproach. 35:26 Jb 8:22; Ps 40:14; 109:29
27 Let those who want my vindication
shout for joy and be glad;
let them continually say,
"The Lord be exalted.
He takes pleasure in his servant’s well-being." 35:27 Ps 40:16; 70:4
28 And my tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praise all day long. 35:28 Ps 71:8,15,24