Psalm 35

Psalm 35

A Psalm of David.

​Oppose those who oppose me;
fight those who choose to fight.
Take up your shield and buckler;
arise and aid my plight.

Lift up your spear and javelin
against those who pursue;
And, let me hear your whisper,
I've come to ​ransom you.

Bring shame and great dishonor
to those who'd take my soul;
confound those who would harm me
and turn them from their goal.

May they be chaff, wind-driven
by angels you've assigned;
their way be slick and darkened,
​as angels chase behind.

Without just cause or reason,
they lay traps I can't see;
without one provocation,
they dig deep pits for me.

​May sudden ruination
befall them unawares;
let them become entangled
and trapped by their own snares.

Allow them to be swallowed
by their own holes — destroyed!
My soul, in your salvation,
will then be overjoyed.

​My bones cry out, Who's like you;
who gives the poor relief?
Who else protects the helpless
 and needy from the thief?

Malicious accusations
by witnesses are brought,
bombarding me with questions
of things which I know not.

My good repaid with evil;
I'm sickened with despair.
And, yet, when they were ailing,
my sackcloth did I wear.​

​Afflicted by my fasting;
none heard my stomach groan.
I prayed for them in public,
and pled for them alone.

I grieved as for my brother,
and paced as for a friend;
I mourned as for my mother,
and wept for days on end.

But, now that I have stumbled,
they gather to rejoice.
I'm slandered — even strangers
malign me with their voice.

Like godless, profane jesters
who entertain at feasts,
they constantly abuse me
and gnash me with their teeth.

How long will you stand idle?
How long will you hold back?
My life is in the clutches
of lions who attack.

Among the great assembly,
my thanks will I proclaim;
among the many people,
I'll ever praise your name.

​Don't let my foes gloat over
my downfall and defeat;
those hating without reason — 
who wink in their deceit.

Their words are never peaceful;
they plot to stir up strife
against the meek and timid
who live the quiet life.

​They gape with mouths wide open:
Aha! At last we see!
You've seen, LORD, don't be silent;
do not abandon me.

Awaken, and defend me!
My God and LORD — my fate!
Judge me, LORD, with your justice.
Don't let them celebrate.

​Don't let them say in triumph,
At last we have his soul!
Don't let them say, Let's eat him,
and swallow him up whole.

Let those who seek my downfall,
who denigrate my name,
who gloat in all my troubles — 
may they be clothed in shame.

Let those who shout with gladness
when my name's been restored — 
let them say to you always,
Exalted be the LORD,

who loves to bless his servant
with welfare and with peace.
Then I'll proclaim your justice;
your praises will not cease.

---

I finished writing Psalm 1 on 8/22/2020, Psalm 2 on 8/25, Psalm 3 on 8/26.  This is not to brag — but rather to illustrate how utterly consumed I was.  It was an all-day, every day affair.  Running lines thru my head on the car ride to and from work, while at work — all the time.  And it was exhausting.  Psalm 32 was completed on 11/5, Psalm 33 on 11/6, and Psalm 34 on 11/9.  Midway thru Psalm 35, I just stopped.  I hit a wall and completely stopped writing.

I eked out a Christmas poem by the end of that year and managed an Easter poem as well — but I was not motivated to get back into the Psalms.  Finally, a few weeks ago, I reread through the thirty-four Psalms that I had written a few times and eased back into Psalm 35.  But it still took a few weeks to get it done and it was a tough road.