Psalms 35:1-20

1 [A Psalm] of David. Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

3 Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I [am] thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].

6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7 For without cause they have hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who [is] like thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, even the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11 False witnesses arose; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother.

15 But in my adversity they rejoiced, and assembled themselves: [yes], the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling 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 my 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.

Psalms 35:1-20 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.