Psalm 35, Part 1

O Lord, maintain my righteous plea,
Strive Thou Avith them that strive with me,
Against my persecutors fight,
Snatch up the shield against my foes,
Bring forth the spear, their course oppose.
And stay the fury of their might.
Say to my soul, " On Me rely,
Thy Saviour and Salvation nigh
In every trying hour I am:"
Turn back my foes who seek to slay
This helpless soul, with sore dismay
And anguish fill, and awful shame.

Their rage defeat, their malice blind,
Make them like dust before the wind,
Down their dark slippery way pursue,
By Thine avenging angel chase,
Scatter the persecuting race
Who long their hands in blood to' imbrue.
Sworn to destroy my soul they are,
My thoughtless innocence to' ensnare
Their causeless rage a pit hath made:
A sudden blast confound them all
While into their own pit they fall.
Caught by the snare themselves had laid.
; And thou, my soul, thy Saviour praise,
Thou shalt with thanks adore His grace,
And all my bones with joy shall cry,
Lord, who in power is like to Thee
Whose tender love hath rescued me?
Thou only art the Lord most high.
Helper of the afflicted poor,
Thou dost his hunted life secure.
And save him from his stronger foe,
Defraud the lions of their prey,
And bear the ransom'd soul away,
And bid him all Thy goodness know.
False witnesses rose up to blast
Mine innocence, and vilely cast
Their foulest slanders on my head.
With lies and perjuries pursued,
Evil they render'd me for good.
And sorrowful to death they made.
Yet did I bear their heaviest load
When they were visited by God,
And moved with more than filial care
Fasted as for my friend, and mourn'd;
But to myself my prayer return'd.
It could not rest with Satan there.
But they in my adversity
With bitterest scoffs insulted me,
Mix'd with the lewd blaspheming crowd,
As evil they cast out my name,
Loaded me with reproach and shame,
And gnash'd their teeth and raged aloud.