Psalm 35: Contend O LORD with all

Contend O LORD with all of those who do contend with me.

And fight against all those O LORD who want to fight against me.

Take up your shield and buckler; 

Arise come to my aid.

Brandish your shield and javelin,

‘Gainst those who pursue me.

‘Gainst those who pursue me.

Say to my soul, say to my soul,

I’m your salvation.

May those who seek my life be put to shame and in disgrace.

May those who plot my ruin be turned back and in dismay.

And may they be like chaff,

Before the driving wind.

And may the angel of God

Be there, drive them away.

Be there, drive them away

And may God’s angel, and may God’s angel

Drive them away.

May the LORD’s angel pursue them, their path be dark and slippery,

Since they have hid their nets and dug a pit for me without cause.

May they fall in the pit;

May ruin fall on them;

Surprise and overtake them;

Their nets entangle them.

Their nets entangle them.

And in their ruin, their nets entangle,

Entangle them.

Then in the LORD I will rejoice, my soul, in his salvation.

Then I’ll exclaim with all my heart” Who is like you O LORD?”

You rescue all the poor,

From those too strong for them,

And all those needy souls,

From those who would rob them.

From those who would rob them.

For Lord you rescue 

From those who rob them;

Who rob the poor.

The ruthless witnesses come forth to question and accuse me;

Repay me evil for what’s good and leave my soul forlorn.

Yet when these souls were ill,

I put on sackcloth clothes;

I spent my time in fasting,

My prayer unanswered went.

My prayer unanswered went.

I went out mourning
As for my brother;

As for my friend.
In grief my head bowed;

Wept with my head bowed,
As for my mother.

But when I stumbled, my assailants gathered round in glee;


Without my knowledge, slandered me, they mocked and gnashed their teeth.

How long, Lord, will you watch?

Rescue me from these lions; 

They ravage, take my life,

Then I will give you thanks.

Then I will give you thanks.


In the assembly, the great assembly


I will praise you.


Don’t let my foes and enemies gloat over me without cause.

They hate me, wink their eyes maliciously, falsely accuse me.

Though I live peaceably

And quietly in the land,

They sneer at me and say:

“With our own eyes we’ve seen.”

“With our own eyes we’ve seen.”

Falsely accusing, those who live quietly

Live in the land.

Lord you have seen, do not be silent, be not far from me.

Awake, arise to my defence, contend for me LORD.

And in your righteousness,

Come vindicate me LORD.

Don’t let them mock and gloat

Or say “He’s swallowed up.

Or say “He’s swallowed up.

Got what we wanted, just what we wanted,

He’s swallowed up.”

May all who gloat at my distress be put to shame/ confusion.


May all who think themselves above me be ashamed, disgraced.


But may those who delight

In seeing wrongs made right,


Shout out for joy and gladness;


Sing out “Exalt the LORD.”

Sing out “Exalt the LORD.”

Who takes delight in his servants’ welfare;

When they are blessed.

When they are blessed.

My tongue will sing of; proclaim your goodness,

Your righteousness, your righteousness.