Psaume 35:8

8 Qu'une ruine imprévue l'atteigne! Qu'il soit pris au filet qu'il a caché! Qu'il y tombe et qu'il périsse!

Psaume 35:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 35:8

Let destruction come upon him at unawares
Or a "storm" {r}, such as is caused in the eastern countries by a south wind, very sudden, violent, and destructive F19: the singular number being here used, some Jewish commentators, as Kimchi, have thought Saul is particularly meant; and some Christian interpreters have been of opinion that Judas is intended: the imprecations here may be compared with those which respect him, ( Psalms 109:6-8 ) . Though this may regard every one of the enemies of David, or of Christ and his people, whose ruin and destruction will come upon them unawares; see ( 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ) ( Revelation 18:7 Revelation 18:8 ) ;

and let his net that he hath laid catch himself;
a figurative expression, agreeable to the allusion before made, and which is explained in the next clause;

into that very destruction let him fall,
which he had designed and contrived for others; so Haman was hanged on the same gallows he had prepared for Mordecai; and so it often is in the course of Providence, that the wicked fall into the same calamity they have intended and endeavoured to bring others into; see ( Psalms 7:15 Psalms 7:16 ) ( Psalms 9:15 Psalms 9:16 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (hawv) "tumultuosa calamitas", Cocceius; so Ainsworth; "tumultus", Vatablus.
F19 See Thevenot, Tavernier

Psaume 35:8 In-Context

6 Que leur chemin soit ténébreux et glissant, et que l'ange de l'Éternel les poursuive!
7 Car sans cause ils m'ont tendu leur filet sur une fosse; sans cause ils l'ont creusée pour m'ôter la vie.
8 Qu'une ruine imprévue l'atteigne! Qu'il soit pris au filet qu'il a caché! Qu'il y tombe et qu'il périsse!
9 Et mon âme s'égaiera en l'Éternel, et se réjouira de sa délivrance.
10 Tous mes os diront: Éternel, qui est semblable à toi, qui délivres l'affligé de celui qui est plus fort que lui, l'affligé et le pauvre de celui qui le dépouille?
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.