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Psalms 35

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Psalms 35:1-28
1By David. Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. 2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help. 3Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.” 4Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded. 5Let them be as chaff before the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on. 6Let their way be dark and slippery, the LORD’s angel pursuing them. 7For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. 8Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction. 9My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice in his salvation. 10All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?” 11Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about. 12They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul. 13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom. 14I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother. 15But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease. 16Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me. 17Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions. 18I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people. 19Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes. 20For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land. 21Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!” 22You have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me. 23Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me! 24Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me. 25Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!” 26Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me. 27Let those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!” 28My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.

This passage explores a courtroom-like plea for God to defend the innocent against malicious and ungrateful enemies, teaching worshipers how to respond to God with faithful trust and obedient hope.

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