Psalm 35:1-28 NCV

[1] LORD, battle with those who battle with me. Fight against those who fight against me. [2] Pick up the shield and armor. Rise up and help me. [3] Lift up your spears, both large and small, against those who chase me. Tell me, "I will save you." [4] Make those who want to kill me be ashamed and disgraced. Make those who plan to harm me turn back and run away. [5] Make them like chaff blown by the wind as the angel of the LORD forces them away. [6] Let their road be dark and slippery as the angel of the LORD chases them. [7] For no reason they spread out their net to trap me; for no reason they dug a pit for me. [8] So let ruin strike them suddenly. Let them be caught in their own nets; let them fall into the pit and die. [9] Then I will rejoice in the LORD; I will be happy when he saves me. [10] Even my bones will say, " LORD, who is like you? You save the weak from the strong, the weak and poor from robbers." [11] Men without mercy stand up to testify. They ask me things I do not know. [12] They repay me with evil for the good I have done, and they make me very sad. [13] Yet when they were sick, I put on clothes of sadness and showed my sorrow by fasting. But my prayers were not answered. [14] I acted as if they were my friends or brothers. I bowed in sadness as if I were crying for my mother. [15] But when I was in trouble, they gathered and laughed; they gathered to attack before I knew it. They insulted me without stopping. [16] They made fun of me and were cruel to me and ground their teeth at me in anger. [17] Lord, how long will you watch this happen? Save my life from their attacks; save me from these people who are like lions. [18] I will praise you in the great meeting. I will praise you among crowds of people. [19] Do not let my enemies laugh at me; they hate me for no reason. Do not let them make fun of me; they have no cause to hate me. [20] Their words are not friendly but are lies about peace-loving people. [21] They speak against me and say, "Aha! We saw what you did!" [22] LORD, you have been watching. Do not keep quiet. Lord, do not leave me alone. [23] Wake up! Come and defend me! My God and Lord, fight for me! [24] LORD my God, defend me with your justice. Don't let them laugh at me. [25] Don't let them think, "Aha! We got what we wanted!" Don't let them say, "We destroyed him." [26] Let them be ashamed and embarrassed, because they were happy when I hurt. Cover them with shame and disgrace, because they thought they were better than I was. [27] May my friends sing and shout for joy. May they always say, "Praise the greatness of the LORD, who loves to see his servants do well." [28] I will tell of your goodness and will praise you every day.