Psalms 35:12-22

12 They reward me evil for good, [to] the bereavement of my soul.

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

14 I behaved myself as though [he had been] a friend, a brother to me; I bowed down in sadness, as one that mourneth [for] a mother.

15 But at my halting they rejoiced, and gathered together: the slanderers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:

16 With profane jesters for bread, they have gnashed their teeth against me.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people.

19 Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; let them not wink with the eye that hate me without cause.

20 For they speak not peace; and they devise deceitful words against the quiet in the land.

21 And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, Aha! aha! our eye hath seen [it].

22 Thou hast seen [it], Jehovah: keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

Psalms 35:12-22 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'base ones.'
• [b]. Or 'them.'
• [c]. Or 'hypocritical.'
• [d]. See Ps. 22.20.
• [e]. Or 'in the midst of a great (or mighty) people.'
• [f]. Or 'with false pretext.'
• [g]. Or 'on the earth.'