THE BOOK OF PSALMS

 

Psalms 35-36

A Psalm of David.

1 ¶ Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me: fight against those who fight against me.

2 Take your shields large and small, and come to my aid.

3 Draw the spear and javelin, against those who persecute me: and say to my soul, I am your salvation.

4 Let those who are trying to kill me be confounded and put to shame: let those who plan to harm me be turned back and brought to confusion.

5 Let them be as chaff blown before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD pursue them.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD drive them away.

7 For no reason they have secretly stretched out a net for me, over a pit that they have dug for my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon them when they least expect it; and let them be caught in the net that they have hidden: let them fall into it and be destroyed.

9 Then my soul will delight in the LORD: it will rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones will say, LORD, who is like to you, who rescues the weak from one who is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from one who robs him?

11 ¶ False witnesses rose up; they charge me with things that I know nothing about.

12 They pay me back evil for good, bringing my life to an end.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; but my prayer returned to my own bosom.

14 I behaved as if it were my friend or brother: I bowed down in sorrow, as one who mourns for his mother.

15 But they rejoiced when I stumbled, and gathered themselves together in glee: yea, assailants I did not know gathered together against me; they tore at me, and did not stop:

16 Like the profane mockers at feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

17 ¶ Lord, how long will you look on? rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

18 I will give thanks to you in the great congregation: I will praise you among many people.

19 Do not let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: nor let those who hate me for no reason look on me with contempt.

20 For they do not speak words of friendship: but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.

21 Yes, they opened their mouths wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.

22 You have seen this, O LORD: do not remain silent: O Lord, do not be far away from me.

23 Arouse yourself, and rise to my defense, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to your righteousness; and do not let them gloat over me.

25 Do not let them say in their hearts, Aha, that is what we want: do not let them say, We have ruined him.

26 Let those who rejoice at my hurt be ashamed and brought to confusion together: let those who boast against me be covered with shame and disgrace.

27 Let those who are pleased at my vindication shout for joy, and be glad, and say continually, Let the LORD who takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant be exalted.

28 Then my tongue will speak of your righteousness and praise you all the day long.

 

Psalm 36

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.

1 ¶ The transgression of the wicked reveals what is in his heart, that the terror of God is not before his eyes.

2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity is found to be hateful.

3 The words of his mouth are malicious and deceitful: he has stopped acting wisely, and doing good.

4 He devises iniquity upon his bed; he puts himself on a path that is not good; he does not hate evil.

5 ¶ Your mercy, O LORD, extends to the heavens; and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; your justice like the deepest sea: O LORD, you preserve man and beast.

7 How excellent is your loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.

8 They will be abundantly satisfied with the rich foods at your house; and you will cause them to drink from the stream of your pleasures.

9 For the fountain of life is with you: in your light we will see light.

10 O continue your loving kindness to those who know you; and your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Do not let the feet of the proud trample me, and do not let the hand of the wicked remove me.

12 There the workers of iniquity will fall: they are thrown down, and will never be able to get up.