XXXV PRAYER FOR RESCUE FROM ENEMIES
A Psalm of David.
［1］ STRIVE thou, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me:
Fight thou against them that fight against me.
［2］ Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help.
［3］ Draw out also the spear, and〖Or, and the battle axe against &c.〗 stop the way against them. that pursue me:
Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
［4］ Let them be put to shame and brought to dishonor that seek after my soul:
Let them be turned back and confounded that devise my hurt.
［5］ Let them be as chaff before the wind,
And the angel of Jehovah driving them on.
［6］ Let their way be dark〖Heb. darkness and slippery places.〗 and slippery,
And the angel of Jehovah pursuing them.
［7］ For without cause have they hid for me their〖Or, the pit of their net.〗 net in a pit;
Without cause have they digged a pit for my soul.
［8］ Let destruction come upon him unawares;
And let his net that he hath hid catch himself:
With〖Or, Into that very destruction let him fall.〗 destruction let him fall therein.
［9］ And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah:
It shall rejoice in his salvation.
［10］ All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee,
Who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him,
Yea, the poor and the needy from him that robbeth him?
［11］ Unrighteous〖Or, Malicious. See Ex. 23. 1.〗 witnesses rise up;
They ask me of things that I know not.
［12］ They reward me evil for good,
To the bereaving of my soul.
［13］ But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth:
I afflicted my soul with fasting;
And my prayer returned〖Or, shall return.〗 into mine own bosom.
［14］ I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother:
I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother.
［15］ But in mine〖Heb. my limping.〗 adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together:
The abjects〖Or, smiters.〗 gathered themselves together against me, and I〖Or, those whom I knew not.〗 knew it not;
They did tear me, and ceased not:
［16］ Like〖Or, Among.〗 the profane mockers in feasts,
They gnashed upon me with their teeth.
［17］ Lord, how long wilt thou look on?
Rescue my soul from their destructions,
My darling〖Heb. only one. Or, dearback〗 from the lions.
［18］ I will give thee thanks in the great assembly:
I will praise thee among much〖Or, a mighty people.〗 people.
［19］ Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully〖Heb. falsely.〗 rejoice over me;
Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
［20］ For they speak not peace;
But they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.
［21］ Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me;
They said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
［22］ Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah; keep not silence:
O Lord, be not far from me.
［23］ Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice due unto me,
Even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
［24］ Judge me, O Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
［25］ Let them not say in their heart, Aha,〖Heb. Aha our desire.〗 so would we have it:
Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
［26］ Let them be put to shame and confounded together that rejoice at my hurt:
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that
magnify themselves against me.
［27］ Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor〖Heb. have pleasure in my righteousness.〗 my righteous cause:
Yea, let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified,
Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
［28］ And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness
And of thy praise all the day long.