Psalm 35:1-28 GNT

[1] Oppose those who oppose me, LORD, and fight those who fight against me! [2] Take your shield and armor and come to my rescue. [3] Lift up your spear and war ax against those who pursue me. Promise that you will save me. [4] May those who try to kill me be defeated and disgraced! May those who plot against me be turned back and confused! [5] May they be like straw blown by the wind as the angel of the LORD pursues them! [6] May their path be dark and slippery while the angel of the LORD strikes them down! [7] Without any reason they laid a trap for me and dug a deep hole to catch me. [8] But destruction will catch them before they know it; they will be caught in their own trap and fall to their destruction! [9] Then I will be glad because of the LORD; I will be happy because he saved me. [10] With all my heart I will say to the LORD, "There is no one like you. You protect the weak from the strong, the poor from the oppressor." [11] Evil people testify against me and accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. [12] They pay me back evil for good, and I sink in despair. [13] But when they were sick, I dressed in mourning; I deprived myself of food; I prayed with my head bowed low, [14] as I would pray for a friend or a brother. I went around bent over in mourning, as one who mourns for his mother. [15] But when I was in trouble, they were all glad and gathered around to make fun of me; strangers beat me and kept striking me. [16] Like those who would mock a cripple, they glared at me with hate. [17] How much longer, Lord, will you just look on? Rescue me from their attacks; save my life from these lions! [18] Then I will thank you in the assembly of your people; I will praise you before them all. [19] Don't let my enemies, those liars, gloat over my defeat. Don't let those who hate me for no reason smirk with delight over my sorrow. [20] They do not speak in a friendly way; instead they invent all kinds of lies about peace-loving people. [21] They accuse me, shouting, "We saw what you did!" [22] But you, O LORD, have seen this. So don't be silent, Lord; don't keep yourself far away! [23] Rouse yourself, O Lord, and defend me; rise up, my God, and plead my cause. [24] You are righteous, O LORD, so declare me innocent; don't let my enemies gloat over me. [25] Don't let them say to themselves, "We are rid of him! That's just what we wanted!" [26] May those who gloat over my suffering be completely defeated and confused; may those who claim to be better than I am be covered with shame and disgrace. [27] May those who want to see me acquitted shout for joy and say again and again, "How great is the LORD! He is pleased with the success of his servant." [28] Then I will proclaim your righteousness, and I will praise you all day long.