Psalm 35 (Rhyming)
God, contend with whoever defies me,
Wage battle against whoever tries me.
Grab hold of your shield and then take a stand,
I need you to help; please give me a hand.
Draw your spear and ax for those who pursue,
Tell me that you will come to my rescue.
Shame the people who wanna take my life,
Humiliate them for inflicting this strife.
Flake them into the wind like bits of hay,
Have one of your angels blow them away.
Slippery and dark is how you’ll make their trails,
Have one of your angels right on their tails.
Without cause they set a trap for my soul,
Wanting to trap me, they dug out a hole.
Bring them to ruin, catching them by surprise,
Tangle them up in the trap they devised,
And cause them to fall to their own demise.
My soul gives the Lord much admiration,
My soul rejoices in his salvation.
My essence declares, “Lord, who is like you?”
“The strong hurt the weak. Who comes to rescue?”
“Who saves poor people from thieves like you do?”
They’re charging me with false accusations,
I can’t appease their interrogations.
They repay kindness with hostility,
And that seriously disheartens me.
Yet when they got sick I fasted and cried;
Inside of my heart my prayers amplified.
I mourned for my foes like for a brother,
I bowed and mourned like it was my mother.
Yet when I stumble they are all cheering,
Even the strangers don’t stop jeering.
They snarled right at me with their teeth flashing,
Like jesters hired for taunting and bashing.
Why do you stand back? Lord, why do you stare?
They ravaged my soul which now needs repair,
Please save my one life from the lions’ lair.
I’ll thank you before the congregation,
I’ll brag about you to the whole nation.
They have no reason to stay as my foes,
Stop them from taunting and bringing more woes.
The words they utter make harmony cease,
They spread lies about those living in peace.
They open their mouths and they tell these lies:
“We saw what happened with our own two eyes!”
Jehovah, you saw what really went on,
Please don’t stay silent! Please don’t be withdrawn!
Awaken yourself and avenge me, Lord!
Come to my trial; have justice restored!
Avenge me oh God, since you are upright,
Don’t let my downfall become their delight.
Stop them from saying, “We achieved our goal!”
Don’t let them declare, “We swallowed him whole!”
They revel in my pain, so put them to shame;
Humiliate them for desiring my fame.
Give my allies cause for celebration,
We’ll say, “God deserves magnification,”
And “God delights in our culmination.”
My lips will declare your justice-filled ways,
And I will praise you for all of my days.