Psalms 35:5-15

5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of ADONAI to drive them on.

6 May their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of ADONAI to pursue them.

7 For unprovoked, they hid their net over a pit; unprovoked, they dug it for me.

8 May destruction come over him unawares. May the net he concealed catch himself; may he fall into it and be destroyed.

9 Then I will be joyful in ADONAI, I will rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones will say, "Who is like you? Who can rescue the weak from those stronger than they, the poor and needy from those who exploit them?"

11 Malicious witnesses come forward, asking me things about which I know nothing.

12 They repay me evil for good; it makes me feel desolate as a parent bereaved.

13 But I, when they were ill, wore sackcloth; I put myself out and fasted; I can pray that what I prayed for them might also happen to me.

14 I behaved as I would for my friend or my brother; I bent down in sorrow as if mourning my mother.

15 But when I stumble, they gather in glee; they gather against me and strike me unawares; they tear me apart unceasingly.

Psalms 35:5-15 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.