
Day VII : Morning Prayer

Psalm 35 - Judica, Domine

1   Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me, ◆
    and fight against those who fight against me.

2   Take up the shield and buckler, ◆
    and stand up to help me.

3   Bring forth the spear and bar the way against those who pursue me; ◆
    say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4   Let them be confounded and put to shame who seek after my life; ◆
    let them be turned back and brought to confusion who imagine evil against me.

5   Let them be as the chaff before the wind, ◆
    and let the angel of the Lord scatter them.

6   Let their way be dark and slippery, ◆
    and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.

7   For they have secretly laid their net to destroy me without a cause; ◆
    indeed, without a cause have they made a pit to take away my life.

8   Let sudden destruction come upon them unawares, and the net, which they have laid secretly, catch themselves, ◆
    that they may fall into their own trouble.

9   Then shall my soul be joyful in the Lord; ◆
    I shall rejoice in his salvation.

10  All my bones shall say, “Lord, who is like you? You deliver the poor from those who are too strong for them; ◆
    indeed, the poor and those who are in misery from those who rob them.”

11  Malicious witnesses rise up; ◆
    they charge me with matters I know nothing about.

12  They repay me evil for good, ◆
    to the great sorrow of my soul.

13  Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting; ◆
    I prayed with my whole heart, as if it had been my friend or my brother.

14  I behaved myself as one who mourns for his mother; ◆
    I was bowed down with heaviness of heart.

15  But in my adversity, they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; ◆
    indeed, those who struck me came together against me, and I had no rest; they tore at me, and would not cease.

16  When I stumbled they mocked me exceedingly, ◆
    and gnashed at me with their teeth.

17  Lord, how long will you look on this? ◆
    O deliver me from the calamities they bring upon me, and my life from the lions.

18  So will I give you thanks in the great congregation; ◆
    I will praise you among many people.

19  O let not those who are my enemies triumph over me deceitfully; ◆
    neither let them wink with their eyes, those who hate me without a cause.

20  For their talking is not for peace, ◆
    but they imagine deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

21  They open their mouths at me, and say, ◆
    “Aha! Aha! We saw it with our own eyes!”

22  This you have seen, O Lord. ◆
    Hold not your tongue then; be not far from me, O Lord.

23  Awake, and stand up to judge my case; ◆
    avenge my cause, my God and my Lord.

24  Judge me, O Lord my God, according to your righteousness, ◆
    and let them not triumph over me.

25  Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha! We have what we want!” ◆
    Neither let them say, “We have devoured him.”

26  Let them be put to confusion and shame who rejoice at my trouble; ◆
    let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who boast against me.

27  Let them be glad and rejoice who favor my righteous cause; ◆
    indeed, let them say always, “Great is the Lord, who takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”

28  And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of your righteousness ◆
    and of your praise all the day long.
