Psalms 35:1-9

Prayer for Rescue from Enemies.

1 Contend, O LORD, with those who 1contend with me; Fight against those who 2fight against me.
2 Take hold of 3buckler and shield And rise up for 4my help.
3 Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, "I am 5your salvation."
4 Let those be 6ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those be 7turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.
5 Let them be 8like chaff before the wind, With the angel of the LORD driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and 9slippery, With the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 For 10without cause they 11hid their net for me; Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let 12destruction come upon him unawares *, And 13let the net which he hid catch himself; Into that very 14destruction let him fall.
9 And my soul shall 15rejoice in the LORD; It shall 16exult in His salvation.

Psalms 35:1-9 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 16

  • 1. Psalms 18:43; Isaiah 49:25
  • 2. Psalms 56:2
  • 3. Psalms 91:4
  • 4. Psalms 44:26
  • 5. Psalms 62:2
  • 6. Psalms 70:2
  • 7. Psalms 40:14; Psalms 129:5
  • 8. Job 21:18; Psalms 83:13; Isaiah 29:5
  • 9. Psalms 73:18; Jeremiah 23:12
  • 10. Psalms 69:4; Psalms 109:3; Psalms 140:5
  • 11. Psalms 9:15
  • 12. Psalms 55:23; Isaiah 47:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:3
  • 13. Psalms 9:15
  • 14. Psalms 73:18
  • 15. Isaiah 61:10
  • 16. Psalms 9:14; Psalms 13:5; Luke 1:47

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. I.e. small shield
  • [b]. Or "close up the path against those"
  • [c]. Or "soul"
  • [d]. "Pit" has been transposed from line above
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