# Psalm 35 (New King James Version)
The Lord the Avenger of His People

##### Chapter 35
###### 1 Plead _my cause,_ O Lord, with those who strive with me;  
Fight against those who fight against me.  

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

###### 3 Also draw out the spear,  
And stop those who pursue me.  
Say to my soul,  
"I _am_ your salvation."

###### 4 Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor  
Who seek after my life;  
Let those be turned back and brought to confusion  
Who plot my hurt.  

###### 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind,  
And let the angel of the Lord chase _them._  

###### 6 Let their way be dark and slippery,  
And let the angel of the Lord pursue them.  

###### 7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me _in_ a pit,  
_Which_ they have dug without cause for my life.  

###### 8 Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly,  
And let his net that he has hidden catch himself;  
Into that very destruction let him fall.

###### 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord;  
It shall rejoice in His salvation.  

###### 10 All my bones shall say,  
"Lord, who _is_ like You,  
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,  
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?"

###### 11 Fierce witnesses rise up;  
They ask me _things_ that I do not know.  

###### 12 They reward me evil for good,  
_To_ the sorrow of my soul.  

###### 13 But as for me, when they were sick,  
My clothing _was_ sackcloth;  
I humbled myself with fasting;  
And my prayer would return to my own heart.  

###### 14 I paced about as though _he were_ my friend _or_ brother;  
I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns _for his_ mother.

###### 15 But in my adversity they rejoiced  
And gathered together;  
Attackers gathered against me,  
And I did not know _it;_  
They tore _at me_ and did not cease;  

###### 16 With ungodly mockers at feasts  
They gnashed at me with their teeth.

###### 17 Lord, how long will You look on?  
Rescue me from their destructions,  
My precious _life_ from the lions.  

###### 18 I will give You thanks in the great assembly;  
I will praise You among many people.

###### 19 Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies;  
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.  

###### 20 For they do not speak peace,  
But they devise deceitful matters  
Against _the_ quiet ones in the land.  

###### 21 They also opened their mouth wide against me,  
_And_ said, "Aha, aha!  
Our eyes have seen _it._"

###### 22 _This_ You have seen, O Lord;  
Do not keep silence.  
O Lord, do not be far from me.  

###### 23 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,  
To my cause, my God and my Lord.  

###### 24 Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness;  
And let them not rejoice over me.  

###### 25 Let them not say in their hearts, "Ah, so we would have it!"  
Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."

###### 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion  
Who rejoice at my hurt;  
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor  
Who exalt themselves against me.

###### 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad,  
Who favor my righteous cause;  
And let them say continually,  
"Let the Lord be magnified,  
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."  

###### 28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness  
_And_ of Your praise all the day long.