Chapter 35

  [A Psalm] of David. Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.  

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  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.  

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  Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation.  

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  Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.  

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  Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].  

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  Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.  

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  For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.  

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  Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.  

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  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.  

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  All my bones shall say, LORD, who [is] like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?  

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  False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.  

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  They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.  

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  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.  

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  I behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother.  

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  But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:  

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  With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.  

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  Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.  

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  I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.  

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  Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.  

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  For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land.  

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  Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it].  

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  [This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.  

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  Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.  

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  Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.  

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  Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.  

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  Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.  

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  Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.  

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  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.  

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