Psalms 35:14-24

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down in heaviness, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they tore at me and ceased not.

16 With hypocritical mockers at feasts they gnashed their teeth against me.

17 Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my precious soul from the lions.

18 I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among many people.

19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20 For they speak not peace, but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21 Yea, they opened their mouths wide against me and said, "Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen it."

22 This Thou hast seen, O LORD; keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

23 Stir up Thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

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.