The No Spin Zone of Prayer

Psalm 35
Of David.

1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;

fight against those who fight against me.

2 Take up shield and buckler;

arise and come to my aid.

3 Brandish spear and javelin

against those who pursue me.

Say to my soul,

"I am your salvation."

4 May those who seek my life

be disgraced and put to shame;

may those who plot my ruin

be turned back in dismay.

5 May they be like chaff before the wind,

with the angel of the LORD

driving them away;

6 may their path be dark and slippery,

with the angel of the LORD

pursuing them.

7 Since they hid their net

for me without cause

and without cause dug a pit for me,

8 may ruin overtake them by surprise—

may the net they hid entangle them,

may they fall into the pit, to their ruin

9 Then my soul

will rejoice in the LORD

and delight in his salvation.

10 My whole being will exclaim,

"Who is like you, O LORD ?

You rescue the poor

from those too strong for them,

the poor and needy

from those who rob them."

11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;

they question me

on things I know nothing about.

12 They repay me evil for good

and leave my soul forlorn.

13 Yet when they were ill,

I put on sackcloth

and humbled myself with fasting.

When my prayers

returned to me unanswered,

14 I went about mourning

as though for my friend or brother.

I bowed my head in grief

as though weeping for my mother.

15 But when I stumbled,

they gathered in glee;

attackers gathered against me

when I was unaware.

They slandered me without ceasing.

16 Like the ungodly

they maliciously mocked ;

they gnashed their teeth at me.

17 O Lord, how long will you look on?

Rescue my life from their ravages,

my precious life from these lions.

18 I will give you thanks

in the great assembly;

among throngs of people

I will praise you.

19 Let not those gloat over me

who are my enemies without cause;

let not those who hate me

without reason maliciously wink the eye.

20 They do not speak peaceably,

but devise false accusations

against those who live quietly in the land.

21 They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha!

With our own eyes we have seen it."

22 O LORD, you have seen this;

be not silent.

Do not be far from me,

O Lord.

23 Awake, and rise to my defense!

Contend for me, my God and Lord.

24 Vindicate me in

your righteousness,

O LORD my God;

do not let them gloat over me.

25 Do not let them think,

"Aha, just what we wanted!"

or say,

"We have swallowed him up."

26 May all who gloat over my distress

be put to shame and confusion;

may all

who exalt themselves

over me

be clothed with shame and disgrace.

27 May those

who delight in my vindication

shout for joy and gladness;

may they always say,

"The LORD be exalted,

who delights in the well-being of his servant."

28 My tongue

will speak of your righteousness

and of your praises all day long.