Psalms 35:1-8

1 Contend, O LORD, with those who 1contend with me; 2fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of 3shield and buckler and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin[a] against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your salvation!"
4 4Let them be 5put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be 6turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like 7chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and 8slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!
7 For 9without cause 10they hid their net for me; without cause they dug 11a pit for my life.[b]
8 Let 12destruction come upon him 13when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it--to his destruction!

Psalms 35:1-8 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.

Cross References 13

  • 1. Isaiah 49:25
  • 2. [Exodus 14:25; Isaiah 42:13]
  • 3. Psalms 91:4; [Psalms 5:12]
  • 4. For ver. 4-8, see Psalms 69:22-28; Psalms 109:6-15
  • 5. ver. 26; Psalms 40:14; Psalms 70:2; Psalms 71:13; Psalms 83:17
  • 6. Psalms 129:5
  • 7. See Job 21:18
  • 8. Psalms 73:18; Jeremiah 23:12
  • 9. See Psalms 69:4
  • 10. See Job 18:8
  • 11. See Psalms 7:15
  • 12. [1 Thessalonians 5:3]
  • 13. Isaiah 47:11

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or and close the way
  • [b]. The word pit is transposed from the preceding line; Hebrew For without cause they hid the pit of their net for me; without cause they dug for my life
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.