Psalms 35

1 Contend [strive, plead my cause] with my opponents [those who strive with me, enemies], O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]; fight [strive, wage war] against those who fight [strive, make war] against me. word study 2 Take up [seize, lay hold of] Your shield [a protective device, buckler] and buckler [a hook, protective armor]; arise [stand up, rise] and come to my [personal, intimate] aid [help, assistance, support]. word study 3 Draw [brandish, take up] the spear [lance, thrusting pole] and javelin [throwing spear] against my pursuers [those who chase me, persecute me]; say [command, promise] to my soul [living being, essence]: “I [emphatically, I myself] am your salvation [deliverance, victory, prosperity].” word study 4 May those who seek [pursue, search for] my life [soul, living being] be disgraced [ashamed, humiliated] and put to shame [blush, feel guilty]; may those who plan [devise, plot] to harm [do evil to] me be driven back [turned back, repelled] and confounded [confused, brought to confusion]. word study 5 May they be like chaff [loose outer covering of grain] in the wind [a blast of air], as the angel [messenger, representative] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] drives [thrusts, pushes down] them away [chases, scatters]. word study 6 May their path [way of life, journey] be dark [full of misery, spiritual darkness] and slick [smooth, slippery], as the angel [messenger, representative] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] pursues [chases, persecutes]. word study 7 For [without reason or cost] without cause they laid their net [a network] for me; without [for nothing, in vain] reason they dug a pit for my soul [the essence of a person, a living being]. word study 8 May [sudden, unforeseen] ruin [destruction, devastation] befall them by surprise; may the net [snare, trap] they hid [concealed, secretly laid] ensnare them; may they fall [be captured, come to ruin] into the hazard [pit, destruction] they created [prepared, laid for others]. word study 9 Then my [living being, essence] soul will rejoice [be joyful, glad] in the [Yehovah, Lord God] LORD and exult [feel joyful, cheerful] in His [victory, deliverance] salvation. word study 10 All my bones [every part of me] will exclaim, “Who [what person] is like You, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], who delivers [rescues, saves] the afflicted [weak, humble, or depressed] from the aggressor [the strong, severe, or powerful], the poor [needy, oppressed] and needy [in want, destitute] from the robber [one who plunders, takes by force]?” word study 11 Hostile [cruel, unrighteous, violent] witnesses [false accusers, those who testify against me] come forward [rise up, stand up to testify]; they make [lay to my charge, ask me about] charges [things, crimes] I know [am aware of, have knowledge of] nothing [not at all, none] about [concerning, regarding]. word study 12 They repay me evil [bad, morally wrong] for good [pleasant, beneficial], to the bereavement [loss, sorrow] of my soul [living being, essence of a person]. word study 13 Yet when they were ill [weak, sick], I put on sackcloth [a coarse cloth]; I humbled [afflicted, oppressed] myself with fasting [going without food, spiritual discipline], but my prayers returned unanswered [into my own bosom, without result]. word study 14 I paced about [habitually walked, as a mourner] as for my friend [neighbor, companion] or brother [close relative]; I was bowed down [humbled, sank low] with grief [mourning, lamenting], like one mourning [bewailing, lamenting] for his mother [female parent, maternal figure]. word study 15 But when I [experienced adversity] stumbled, they assembled [gathered together, came together] in glee [rejoiced, were happy]; they gathered together [assembled, collected] against me. Assailants [attackers, smitten ones] I did not know [was unaware of, had no knowledge of] slandered [tear, reviled] me without ceasing [constantly, never stopping]. word study 16 Like [profane, hypocritical] godless jesters [mockers, buffoons] at a feast [banquet, celebration], they gnashed [ground, rubbed] their teeth [sharp edges] at me [upon me, in my presence]. word study 17 How long [what is the duration], O Lord [Adonay, the revered Master], will You look on [behold, observe, provide for]? Rescue my soul [living being, essence] from their ravages [destructions, devastations], my precious [beloved, unique] life from these lions [young lions, fierce attackers]. word study 18 Then I will give [offer, express] You thanks [praise, gratitude] in the great [large, numerous] assembly [congregation, gathering]; I will praise [extol, magnify] You among [in the midst of, surrounded by] many [much, numerous] people [nations, crowds]. word study 19 Let not [do not allow] my enemies [those who hate me without reason] gloat [rejoice wrongfully, take pleasure] over me without cause [for no reason, in vain], nor those who hate [feel intense dislike, oppose] me without reason [without a cause, falsely] wink [blink, squeeze] in malice [with deceit, from a bad heart]. word study 20 For [because of this reason] they do not speak [utter or communicate] peace [shalom, completeness and wellness], but they devise [plan or contrive] deceitful [false or treacherous] schemes [plots or plans] against those who live [dwell or reside] quietly [in a restful or peaceful state, restful] in the land [the earth or territory, the soil or ground]. word study 21 They gape [open their mouth wide, enlarge against] at me and say [utter, declare], “Aha [an expression of surprise], aha [excitement]! Our eyes [the source of sight, spiritual perception] have seen [looked upon, perceived]!” word study 22 O [Yehovah] LORD, You have seen [observed, looked after] it; be not [do not remain] silent [quiet, unmoved]. O Lord [Adonay, Master], be not [do not stay] far [distant, removed] from me. word study 23 Awake [stir up, rouse to action] and rise to my defense [judgment, justice due to me], to my cause [strife, dispute, my plea], my God [Elohim, the supreme God] and my Lord [Adonay, my sovereign Master]! word study 24 Vindicate [judge, prove innocent] me by Your righteousness [according to Your justice, holy character], O LORD [Yehovah] my God [Elohim, the supreme God], and do not [let not] let them gloat [rejoice, be glad] over me. word study 25 Let them not say [to themselves, in their innermost thoughts] in their hearts, “Aha [an expression of triumph, our desire], just what we wanted [so we would have it, our soul’s rejoice]!” Let them not say [declare, proclaim], “We have swallowed him up [completely destroyed, devoured him]!” word study 26 May those who [rejoice at, take pleasure in] gloat in my distress [trouble, adversity] be [put to, totally] ashamed [feeling guilt, embarrassed] and confounded [brought to confusion, disappointed]; may those who exalt [magnify, lift up] themselves over me [against, above] be clothed [wrapped, covered] in shame [reproach, dishonor] and reproach [disgrace, insult]. word study 27 May those who favor [desire, love] my vindication [righteous cause, justification] shout for joy [sing triumphantly, rejoice] and gladness [happiness, delight]; may they always [continually, constantly] say, “Exalted [magnified, glorified] be the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of all] who delights [takes pleasure, has pleasure] in His servant’s [slave’s, follower’s] well-being [prosperity, peace, shalom].” word study 28 Then my tongue [the language I speak, my voice] will proclaim Your righteousness [justice, moral integrity] and Your praises [songs of thanksgiving, worship] all [every, throughout] day [a period of time, an era] long. word study