New International Reader's Version

Psalm 35:7-23 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

7. They set a trap for me without any reason. Without any reason they dug a pit to catch me.

8. So let them be destroyed without warning. Let the trap they set for me catch them. Let them fall into the pit and be destroyed.

9. Then I will be full of joy because of what the Lord has done. I will be glad because he has saved me.

10. My whole being will cry out, "Who is like you, Lord? You save poor people from those who are too strong for them. You save poor and needy people from those who rob them."

11. Mean people come forward to give witness against me. They ask me things I don't know anything about.

12. They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them. They leave me without hope.

13. But when they were sick, I put on black clothes. I made myself low by going without food. My prayers for them weren't always answered.

14. So I went around crying as if I were crying over my friend or relative. I bowed my head in sadness as if I were sobbing over my mother.

15. But when I tripped and fell, they were all very happy. Attackers gathered against me when I didn't even know it. They kept on telling lies about me.

16. They were like ungodly people. They made fun of me. They ground their teeth at me in hate.

17. Lord, how much longer will you just look on? Save me from their deadly attacks. Save the only life I have. Save me from those lions.

18. I will give you thanks in the whole community. Among all of your people I will praise you.

19. Don't let those who are my enemies without any reason laugh at me and make fun of me. Don't let those who hate me without any reason wink at me with an evil purpose.

20. They don't speak words of peace. They make up false charges against those who live quietly in the land.

21. They open their mouths wide at me. They make fun of me. They say, "With our own eyes we have seen what you did."

22. Lord, you have seen this. Don't be silent. Lord, don't be far away from me.

23. Wake up! Rise up to help me! My God and Lord, stand up for me.