Psalms 35:10-20

10 All my bones will say, "LORD, who could compare to you? You rescue the weak from those who overpower them; you rescue the weak and the needy from those who plunder them."
11 Violent witnesses stand up. They question me about things I know nothing about.
12 They pay me back evil for good, leaving me stricken with grief.
13 But when they were sick, I wore clothes for grieving, and I kept a strict fast. When my prayer came back unanswered,
14 I would wander around like I was grieving a friend or a brother. I was weighed down, sad, like I was a mother in mourning.
15 But when I stumbled, they celebrated and gathered together— they gathered together against me! Strangers I didn't know tore me to pieces and wouldn't quit.
16 They ridiculed me over and over again, like godless people would do, grinding their teeth at me.
17 How long, my Lord, will you watch this happen? Rescue me from their attacks; rescue my precious life from these predatory lions!
18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you in a huge crowd of people.
19 Don't let those who are my enemies without cause celebrate over me; don't let those who hate me for no reason wink at my demise.
20 They don't speak the truth; instead, they plot false accusations against innocent people in the land.

Psalms 35:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 35

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This psalm seems to have been written by David, when he was persecuted by Saul; and when many false charges were brought against him by his courtiers; and when he was the scorn and derision of the people; the subject of it is pretty much of the same kind with the seventh psalm, and might be written about the same time that was, and on the same occasion; and it may be applied to the church and people of God in like cases. There is a passage in it, Ps 35:19, which our Lord seems to refer to and apply to himself, Joh 15:25; and some interpret the whole of it concerning him. The Arabic version calls it a prophecy of the incarnation; though there does not appear any thing in it applicable to that.

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