Psalm 35

Abraham Coles

4 Confound and put to shame all those.
Who seek my life, my hurt contrive;
Turn Thou them back; and make my foes
5 Like chaff that storm-winds fiercely drive:
6 Let, through a dark and slippery place.
The Angel of the Lord them chase.

7 For without cause, for me a snare
They hid, and digged for me a pit;
8 As for their trap, all unaware
9 May they themselves fall into it.
10 "Who is like Thee," I then shall say,
"Who spoils the spoiler of his prey?"

11 Malicious witnesses arise;
They ask me things I do not know;
12 They ill for good 'gainst me devise;
Bereave, and plunge my soul in woe.
13 Whereas, when they were sick, I wore
Sackcloth, kept fast, watched, prayed, wept sore.

14 As to a cherished friend or brother
I bore myself, I to him clung;
I mourned as for a dying mother;
15 But at my halting, their sharp tongue
They did like sword 'gainst me unsheath —
16 They gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 How long, O Lord, wilt Thou look on?
Restore destructions! Let my life
From the young lion's jaws be won —
The purposed prey of men of strife:
18 In the great congregation I
Will then Thy goodness magnify.

19 Let not them, wrongfully my foes.
Rejoice o'er me; permit not them,
20 Who without cause hate and oppose.
To sneer, wink with the eye, contemn,
21 And with wide mouth exclaim, "Ha! ha!
We'd have it so, we're glad we saw."

22 Lord! Thou hast seen it — Be not far;
23 Wake to the justice of my cause:
24 Judge me, judge them, who guilty are,
According to Thy righteous law.
25 Let them not say with humor grim,
"Ha! ha! we now have swallowed him."

26 May those who at my hurt rejoice,
Confounded and dishonored lie,
My foes, who with united voice
Themselves against me magnify.
27 Friends of my right, let them in song.
Sing Thy glad praises all day long!