Psalms 35:1-10

1 A Psalm of David. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help!

3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your deliverance!"

4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me!

5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on!

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!

7 For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.

8 Let ruin come upon them unawares! And let the net which they hid ensnare them; let them fall therein to ruin!

9 Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his deliverance.

10 All my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like thee, thou who deliverest the weak from him who is too strong for him, the weak and needy from him who despoils him?"

Psalms 35:1-10 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.