Psalms 35:14-24

14 My prayers were like lead in my gut, like I'd lost my best friend, my brother. I paced, distraught as a motherless child, hunched and heavyhearted.

15 But when I was down they threw a party! All the nameless riffraff of the town came chanting insults about me.

16 Like barbarians desecrating a shrine, they destroyed my reputation.

17 God, how long are you going to stand there doing nothing? Save me from their brutalities; everything I've got is being thrown to the lions.

18 I will give you full credit when everyone gathers for worship; When the people turn out in force I will say my Hallelujahs.

19 Don't let these liars, my enemies, have a party at my expense, Those who hate me for no reason, winking and rolling their eyes.

20 No good is going to come from that crowd; They spend all their time cooking up gossip against those who mind their own business.

21 They open their mouths in ugly grins, Mocking, "Ha-ha, ha-ha, thought you'd get away with it? We've caught you hands down!"

22 Don't you see what they're doing, God? You're not going to let them Get by with it, are you? Not going to walk off without doing something, are you?

23 Please get up - wake up! Tend to my case. My God, my Lord - my life is on the line.

24 Do what you think is right, God, my God, but don't make me pay for their good time.

Psalms 35:14-24 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.