Psalm 35

My Guardian,

strive with all that strives against me,

fight against that which oppresses me …

Shield and protect me,

be my strong defense;

Say to me I am your salvation.

Those who would harm my soul

will blush with shame, those devising evil

are confounded and will repent …

My Protector, your angel will drive them away

like cut grass in the wind, your angel will pursue them

along a dark and slippery path.

Without cause, they prepared a net for me

they dug a trap to catch me …

Desolation overcomes the one who seeks to surprise

the concealed net captures the concealer

who falls into desolation … 

Let me rejoice in my Guardian;

I will delight in Godde's salvation. 

 

Deep in my bones I ask, who is like you?

Who else can rescue the weak from the strong;
the poor and needy

from those who exploit them?

Violent witnesses rise up,

questioning me, yet I am innocent ...

They replace good with evil, and I grieve …

Yet I humbled myself with fasting and praying

for their sakes;

And when my prayer returned to my heart,

I mourned for them.

I went walking, mourning for them

as if they were a brother or friend,

I grieved as if they were my mother;

I was bent over with weeping.

My stumbling delights them;

they gather, looking to take me unawares,

their whisperings tear me apart.

Within a twisted and mocking mask

the godless bare their teeth …

My Guardian,

how much longer will you just look on?

Rescue me from this ravaging,

this lion that would devour my soul.

I thank you in the great assembly

I praise you among the crowds of people.

They won't gloat over me,

they won't squint hatefully at me ...

they can not speak peaceful words

but devise deceit against those who are peaceful.

They shout their accusations – Hah !

We saw you with our own eyes!

But you saw them, My Protector,

don't stay silent, don't stay away from me …

Awaken! Come to my aid, my Godde, my Guardian!

Acquit me by your incorruptibility, my Guardian,

my Godde, then they will not gloat over me …

 

They won't say Hah! We've got all that we want

or We've consumed them …

Disgrace and humiliation return

to those who gloat over another's distress,

confusion and shame come

to those who aggrandize themselves at another's expense ...

Rejoicing and gladness come
to those who delight in incorruptibility; 

they will say Our Protector is great

and delights in giving peace to those who serve ...

I will tell of your integrity

and praise you all day long.