Psalms 35
35
Rescue Me
A poetic song by King David # 35 This is the first of seven Psalms in which David cried out for vengeance upon his enemies (see Pss. 52; 58; 59; 69; 109; 137).
Part One – David, a Warrior
1O Lord, fight for me! Harass the hecklers; accuse my accusers.
Fight those who fight against me.
2-3Put on your armor, Lord; take up your shield and protect me.
Rise up, mighty God! Grab your weapons of war
and block the way of the wicked who come to fight me.
Stand for me when they stand against me!
Speak over my soul: “I am your strong Savior!” # 35:2–3 The Aramaic word used here is found thirty-three times in the Psalms and clearly means “Savior.” Although a New Testament concept, David had a deep understanding almost one thousand years before the Savior was born that God would become his Savior. The Hebrew word for “Savior,” Yasha, is very similar to the name Jesus, Yeshua.
4Humiliate those who seek my harm. Defeat them all!
Frustrate their plans to defeat me and drive them back.
Disgrace them all as they have devised their plans to disgrace me.
5Blow them away like dust in the wind,
with the angel of Almighty God driving them back!
6Make the road in front of them nothing but slippery darkness,
with the angel of Yahweh behind them, chasing them away!
7For though I did nothing wrong to them, they set a trap for me,
wanting me to fail and fall.
8Surprise them with your ambush, Lord,
and catch them in the very trap they set for me.
Let them be the ones to fail and fall into destruction!
9Then my fears will dissolve into limitless joy;
my whole being will overflow with gladness
because of your mighty deliverance.
10Everything inside of me will shout it out:
“There’s no one like you, Lord!”
For look at how you protect the weak and helpless
from the strong and heartless who oppress them.
Part Two – David, a Witness
11They are malicious men, hostile witnesses of wrong.
They rise up against me, accusers appearing out of nowhere.
12When I show them mercy, they bring me misery.
I’m forsaken and forlorn, like a motherless child.
13I even prayed over them when they were sick.
I was burdened and bowed low with fasting
and interceded for their healing,
and I didn’t stop praying.
14I grieved for them, heavyhearted,
as though they were my dearest family members
or my good friends who were sick,
nearing death, needing prayer.
15But when I was the one who tripped up and stumbled,
they came together to slander me,
rejoicing in my time of trouble, tearing me to shreds
with their lies and betrayal.
16These nameless ruffians,
mocking me like godless fools at a feast—
how they delight in throwing mud on my name.
17God, how long can you just stand there doing nothing?
Now is the time to act.
Rescue me from these brutal men,
for I am being torn to shreds by these beasts
who are out to get me.
Save me from their rage, their cruel grasp.
18Then I will praise you wherever I go.
And when everyone gathers for worship,
I will lift up your praise with a shout
in front of the largest crowd I can find!
Part Three – David, a Worshiper
19Don’t let those who fight me for no reason be victorious.
Don’t let them succeed, these heartless haters
who come against me with their gloating sneers.
20They are the ones who would never seek peace as friends,
for they are ever devising deceit against the innocent ones
who mind their own business.
21They open their mouths with ugly grins,
gloating with glee over my every fault.
“Look,” they say, “we caught him red-handed!
We saw him fall with our own eyes!”
22Yahweh, my caring God, you have been there all along.
You have seen their hypocrisy.
Yahweh, don’t let them get away with this.
Don’t walk away without doing something.
23Now is the time to awake! Rise up, Lord!
Vindicate me, my Lord and my God!
24You have every right to judge me, Lord,
according to your righteousness,
but don’t let them rejoice over me when I stumble.
25-26Let them all be ashamed of themselves,
humiliated when they rejoice over my every blunder.
Shame them, Lord, when they say, “We saw what he did.
Now we have him right where we want him.
Let’s get him while he’s down!”
Make them look ridiculous when they exalt themselves over me.
May they all be disgraced and dishonored!
27But let all my true friends shout for joy,
all those who know and love what I do for you.
Let them all say, “The Lord is great,
and he delights in the prosperity of his servant.”
28Then I won’t be able to hold it in—
everyone will hear my joyous praises all day long!
Your righteousness will be the theme of my glory-song of praise!
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Psalms 35: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 35
35
A Prayer for Rescue from Enemies
Of David.#The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
1Contend, O Yahweh, with my contenders;
fight those who fight me.
2Grasp buckler and shield
and rise to my aid.
3And draw the spear and javelin to meet those who pursue me.
Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4Let those who seek my life be shamed and humiliated.
Let those who plot calamity against me be repulsed and ashamed.
5Let them be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of Yahweh driving them.#Literally “pushing”
6Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of Yahweh pursuing them.
7For without cause they secretly hide the pit with their net for me;
without cause they dug it for my life.
8Let unforeseen ruin#Literally “ruin he does not know” come on him,
and his net that he hid, let it catch him.
Let him fall into it in ruin.
9Then my soul will rejoice in Yahweh;
it will rejoice in his salvation.
10All of my bones shall say, “O Yahweh, who is like you,
who delivers the poor from one stronger than he
and the poor and needy from the one who robs him?”
11Violent witnesses rise up;
they ask me concerning what I do not know.
12They repay me evil in place of good.
It is bereavement to my soul.
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth.
I weakened my soul with fasting,
and my prayer returned to me unanswered.#Literally “upon my lap it will return”
14I behaved#Literally “walked about” as though he were a friend or as a brother to me.
As one lamenting a mother, I was bowed down in mourning.
15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together;
smiters whom I did not know gathered against me.
They tore and did not cease.
16Among the ungodly of the mockers at feasts,#With a slight change the Hebrew might read, “The ungodly boldly mocked”
they gnashed at me with their teeth.
17My Lord, how long will you watch?
Restore my life from their ravages,#Or “roaring”
my only life from the young lions.
18I will give thanks to you in the great assembly;
among the mighty people I will praise you.
19Let not those who are wrongfully my enemies#Or “those who oppose me with falsehood” rejoice over me.
Nor let those who hate me without cause wink the eye.
20For they do not speak peace,
but against the quiet ones of the land
they plan deceitful words.
21They also made wide their mouths#Hebrew “mouth” against me.
They said, “Aha! Aha!
Our eyes have seen it.”
22You have seen, O Yahweh. Do not be deaf.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
23Wake up and rouse yourself for my right,
for my cause, O my God and my Lord.
24Vindicate me according to your righteousness,
O Yahweh my God,
and do not let them rejoice over me.
25Do not let them say in their hearts,#Hebrew “heart” “Aha, our desire.”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26Let them be shamed and abashed altogether,
who rejoice at my misfortune.
Let them put on shame and insult,
who magnify themselves against me.
27Let them shout for joy and be glad,
who delight in my vindication;
and let them say continually, “Yahweh is great,
who delights in the welfare of his servant.”
28Then my tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
and your praise all day.
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