Psalm 35

   1  Plead, Lord, with those that plead; and fight
         with those that fight with me.
   2  Of shield and buckler take thou hold,
         stand up mine help to be.

   3  Draw also out the spear, and do
         against them stop the way
      That me pursue: unto my soul,
         I'm thy salvation, say.

   4  Let them confounded be and shamed
         that for my soul have sought:
      Who plot my hurt turned back be they,
         and to confusion brought.

   5  Let them be like unto the chaff
         that flies before the wind;
      And let the angel of the Lord
         pursue them hard behind.

   6  With darkness cover thou their way,
         and let it slipp'ry prove;
      And let the angel of the Lord
         pursue them from above.

   7  For without cause have they for me
         their net hid in a pit,
      They also have without a cause
         for my soul digged it.

   8  Let ruin seize him unawares;
         his net he hid withal
      Himself let catch; and in the same
         destruction let him fall.

   9  My soul in God shall joy; and glad
         in his salvation be:
  10  And all my bones shall say, O Lord,
         who is like unto thee,

      Which dost the poor set free from him
         that is for him too strong;
      The poor and needy from the man
         that spoils and does him wrong?

  11  False witnesses rose; to my charge
         things I not knew they laid.
  12  They, to the spoiling of my soul,
         me ill for good repaid.

  13  But as for me, when they were sick,
         in sackcloth sad I mourned:
      My humbled soul did fast, my pray'r
         into my bosom turned.

  14  Myself I did behave as he
         had been my friend or brother;
      I heavily bowed down, as one
         that mourneth for his mother.

  15  But in my trouble they rejoiced,
         gath'ring themselves together;
      Yea, objects vile together did
         themselves against me gather:

      I knew it not; they did me tear,
         and quiet would not be.
  16  With mocking hypocrites, at feasts
         they gnashed their teeth at me.

  17  How long, Lord, look'st thou on? from those
         destructions they intend
      Rescue my soul, from lions young
         my darling do defend.

  18  I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,
         within th' assembly great;
      And where much people gathered are
         thy praises forth will set.

  19  Let not my wrongful enemies
         proudly rejoice o'er me;
      Nor who me hate without a cause,
         let them wink with the eye.

  20  For peace they do not speak at all;
         but crafty plots prepare
      Against all those within the land
         that meek and quiet are.

  21  With mouths set wide, they 'gainst me said,
         Ha, ha! our eye doth see.
  22  Lord, thou hast seen, hold not thy peace;
         Lord, be not far from me.

  23  Stir up thyself; wake, that thou may'st
         judgment to me afford,
      Ev'n to my cause, O thou that art
         my only God and Lord.

  24  O Lord my God, do thou me judge
         after thy righteousness;
      And let them not their joy 'gainst me
         triumphantly express:

  25  Nor let them say within their hearts,
         Ah, we would have it thus;
      Nor suffer them to say, that he
         is swallowed up by us.

  26  Shamed and confounded be they all
         that at my hurt are glad;
      Let those against me that do boast
         with shame and scorn be clad.

  27  Let them that love my righteous cause
         be glad, shout, and not cease
      To say, The Lord be magnified,
         who loves his servant's peace.

  28  Thy righteousness shall also be
         declared by my tongue;
      The praises that belong to thee
         speak shall it all day long.