Psalms 35:16-26

16 With crude and abusive mockers, they grit their teeth at me.

17 O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue me from their attacks. Rescue my precious life from the lions.

18 I will give you thanks in a large gathering. I will praise you in a crowd [of worshipers].

19 Do not let my treacherous enemies gloat over me. Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink [at me].

20 They do not talk about peace. Instead, they scheme against the peaceful people in the land.

21 They open their big mouths and say about me, "Aha! Aha! Our own eyes have seen it."

22 You have seen it, O LORD. Do not remain silent. O Lord, do not be so far away from me.

23 Wake up, and rise to my defense. Plead my case, O my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me by your righteousness, O LORD my God. Do not let them gloat over me

25 or think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up."

26 Let those who gloat over my downfall be thoroughly put to shame and confused. Let those who promote themselves at my expense be clothed with shame and disgrace.

Psalms 35:16-26 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.