Psalm 35:13

13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. ^[a]

Psalm 35:13 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 35:13

But as for me, when they were sick
Or under any disorder or distress of body or mind, when any misfortune or infirmity attended them; meaning Saul and his courtiers, before David was persecuted by them;

my clothing [was] sackcloth;
that is, he was grieved, and mourned for them, it being usual to put on sackcloth in time of mourning; see ( Genesis 37:34 ) ;

I humbled my soul with fasting;
on the account of them, giving up himself to prayer for them, as follows:

and my prayer returned into mine own bosom;
that is, he prayed privately and heartily for them, as for himself; he was constant in it, his heart was in it, and he took delight in it, and he was heard and answered; unless the sense should be, that his prayer was slighted by them, and so returned back to himself, as a present despised is returned; but however it was not without its effect, the good for which he prayed for them was returned by the Lord unto him.

Psalm 35:13 In-Context

11 Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

12 They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.

13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

14 I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.

15 But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally returned to my bosom