PSALM 34 (35)

Judge, O Lord, my enemies,
fight against those
who do battle with me.
Take up shield and spear
and rise to my aid.
Unsheathe your sword
and harry from the front
those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
"I am your salvation."
Let those who seek my life
be shamed and awed,
let those who plan
evil against me
be turned back
in confusion,
let them be as dust
before the face of the wind,
and may the angel of the Lord
drive them.
Let their way be dark
and slippery, and let the angel
of the Lord pursue them.
For without reason they hid
their insidious snares for me,
without cause they dug
a pit for my life.
Let come to him
a calamity unknown,
and may the net that he hid
catch him, and may he
fall into the snare.
But my soul will exult
in the Lord,
and will rejoice
in his salvation.
All my bones will say,
"Lord, who is like you,
delivering the needy
from those more powerful,
and the poor and beggars
from those who despoil them?"
False witnesses rose against me,
asking me things that I did not know,
they returned evil to me for good,
and desolation to my soul.
But I, when they troubled me,
put on sackcloth,
I humbled my soul with fasting,
and my prayer shall return
to my breast.
I behaved as a friend,
as a brother,
I was bent with sadness
as one mourning his mother,
and they took joy in my infirmity
and gathered around,
stabbers gathered against me
and I did not know it,
slashers, and they did not
stay silent, but in simulation
of false words they gnashed
their teeth against me.
How long, O Lord,
will you look on?
Deliver my soul from
their calamities,
and my life from the lions.
I shall acknowledge you
in the great congregation,
and in the midst of a strong people
I shall praise you.
Let not my lying enemies
rejoice over me,
nor wink the eye
those who hate me
without cause.
For they do not speak peace,
but in pillaging the land
conceive words of deceit.
They opened their mouths against me,
saying, "good, good, our eyes have seen it."
You saw, O Lord,
do not stay silent.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
Rise up and attend to my judgment,
O my Lord and my God,
to my case.
Judge me according to your righteousness,
O Lord my God,
and let them not insult me,
let them not say in their hearts,
"good, we have our soul's desire,"
let them not say,
"we have swallowed him up."
Let them blush and be in awe,
those who rejoice at my affliction.
Let those who magnify themselves
above me dress in bashfulness and shame.
Let those who desire my vindication
give praise and be glad,
and let them say always
may the Lord be praised
who wishes peace
for his servant.,
and my tongue shall tell
your justice
and your praise
all the day.