New King James Version

English Standard Version

The Lord the Avenger of His People

A Psalm of David.

Plead[a] my cause, O Lord, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.

1

Great Is the Lord

Of David.

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!

2

Take hold of shield and [b]buckler,
And stand up for my help.

2

Take hold of shield and buckler
and rise for my help!

3

Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”

3

Draw the spear and javelina
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation!”

4

Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor
Who seek after my life;
Let those be turned back and brought to confusion
Who plot my hurt.

4

Let them be put to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed
who devise evil against me!

5

Let them be like chaff before the wind,
And let the [c]angel of the Lord chase them.

5

Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away!

6

Let their way be dark and slippery,
And let the angel of the Lord pursue them.

6

Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!

7

For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,
Which they have dug without cause for my life.

7

For without cause they hid their net for me;
without cause they dug a pit for my life.b

8

[d]Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly,
And let his net that he has hidden catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.

8

Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it — to his destruction!

9

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.

9

Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord,
exulting in his salvation.

10

All my bones shall say,
“Lord, who is like You,
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

10

All my bones shall say,
“O Lord, who is like you,
delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him,
the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

11

Fierce witnesses rise up;
They ask me things that I do not know.

11

Maliciousc witnesses rise up;
they ask me of things that I do not know.

12

They reward me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.

12

They repay me evil for good;
my soul is bereft.d

13

But as for me, when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own [e]heart.

13

But I, when they were sick —
I wore sackcloth;
I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowede on my chest.

14

I paced about as though he were my friend or brother;
I bowed down [f]heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.

14

I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
I bowed down in mourning.

15

But in my [g]adversity they rejoiced
And gathered together;
Attackers gathered against me,
And I did not know it;
They tore at me and did not cease;

15

But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
they gathered together against me;
wretches whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing;

16

With ungodly mockers at feasts
They gnashed at me with their teeth.

16

like profane mockers at a feast,f
they gnash at me with their teeth.

17

Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue me from their destructions,
My precious life from the lions.

17

How long, O Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their destruction,
my precious life from the lions!

18

I will give You thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise You among [h]many people.

18

I will thank you in the great congregation;
in the mighty throng I will praise you.

19

Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies;
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.

19

Let not those rejoice over me
who are wrongfully my foes,
and let not those wink the eye
who hate me without cause.

20

For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful matters
Against the quiet ones in the land.

20

For they do not speak peace,
but against those who are quiet in the land
they devise words of deceit.

21

They also opened their mouth wide against me,
And said, “Aha, aha!
Our eyes have seen it.”

21

They open wide their mouths against me;
they say, “Aha, Aha!
Our eyes have seen it!”

22

This You have seen, O Lord;
Do not keep silence.
O Lord, do not be far from me.

22

You have seen, O Lord; be not silent!
O Lord, be not far from me!

23

Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
To my cause, my God and my Lord.

23

Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication,
for my cause, my God and my Lord!

24

Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.

24

Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,
according to your righteousness,
and let them not rejoice over me!

25

Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

25

Let them not say in their hearts,
“Aha, our heart’s desire!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26

Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.

26

Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
who magnify themselves against me!

27

Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the Lord be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

27

Let those who delight in my righteousness
shout for joy and be glad
and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord,
who delights in the welfare of his servant!”

28

And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.

28

Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long.

Parallel

New King James Version

English Standard Version

Psalms 35

Psalms 35