Psalms 34

1Of David himself. O Lord, judge those who harm me; assail those who attack me.

2Take hold of weapons and a shield, and rise up in assistance to me.

3Bring forth the spear, and close in on those who persecute me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4Let them be confounded and in awe, who pursue my soul. Let them be turned back and be confounded, who think up evil against me.

5May they become like dust before the face of the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord hem them in.

6May their way become dark and slippery, and may the Angel of the Lord pursue them.

7For, without cause, they have concealed their snare for me unto destruction. Over nothing, they have rebuked my soul.

8Let the snare, of which he is ignorant, come upon him, and let the deception, which he has hidden, take hold of him: and may he fall into that very snare.

9But my soul will exult in the Lord and delight over his salvation.

10All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you?” He rescues the needy from the hand of the stronger one, the indigent and the poor from those who plunder him.

11Unfair witnesses have risen up, interrogating me about things of which I am ignorant.

12They repaid me evil for good, to the deprivation of my soul.

13But as for me, when they were harassing me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer will become my sinews.

14Like a neighbor, and like our brother, so did I please; like one mourning and contrite, so was I humbled.

15And they have been joyful against me, and they joined together. Scourges have been gathered over me, and I was ignorant of it.

16They have been scattered, yet they were unremorseful. They have tested me. They scoffed at me with scorn. They gnashed their teeth over me.

17Lord, when will you look down upon me? Restore my soul from before their malice, my only one from before the lions.

18I will confess to you in a great Church. I will praise you among a weighty people.

19May those who are my unjust adversaries not be glad over me: those who have hated me without cause, and who nod agreement with their eyes.

20For indeed, they spoke peacefully to me; and speaking with passion to the earth, they intended deceit.

21And they opened their mouth wide over me. They said, “Well, well, our eyes have seen.”

22You have seen, O Lord, do not be silent. Lord, do not depart from me.

23Rise up and be attentive to my judgment, to my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me according to your justice, O Lord, my God, and do not let them be glad over me.

25Do not let them say in their hearts, “Well, well, to our soul.” Neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”

26Let them blush and be in awe together, those who congratulate at my misfortunes. Let them be clothed with confusion and awe, who speak great things against me.

27Let them exult and rejoice, who wish my justice, and let them ever say, “The Lord be magnified,” who will the peace of his servant.

28And so my tongue will express your justice: your praise all day long.