Psalms 35:11-21

11 Men without mercy stand up to testify. They ask me things I do not know.

12 They repay me with evil for the good I have done, and they make me very sad.

13 Yet when they were sick, I put on clothes of sadness and showed my sorrow by going without food. But my prayers were not answered.

14 I acted as if they were my friends or brothers. I bowed in sadness as if I were crying for my mother.

15 But when I was in trouble, they gathered and laughed; they gathered to attack before I knew it. They insulted me without stopping.

16 They made fun of me and were cruel to me and ground their teeth at me in anger.

17 Lord, how long will you watch this happen? Save my life from their attacks; save me from these people who are like lions.

18 I will praise you in the great meeting. I will praise you among crowds of people.

19 Do not let my enemies laugh at me; they hate me for no reason. Do not let them make fun of me; they have no cause to hate me.

20 Their words are not friendly but are lies about peace-loving people.

21 They speak against me and say, "Aha! We saw what you did!"

Psalms 35:11-21 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.