Psalms 35:14-24

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.

15 But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; yea, the smiters gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they tore me apart and did not cease:

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

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Restore my soul from their destructions, my life from the lions.

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

19 Let not those that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those that hate me wink with the eye without a cause.

20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against those that are meek in the land.

21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me and said, Aha, aha, our eye has seen it.

22 This thou hast seen, O LORD; do not keep silence; O Lord, do not be far from me.

23 Stir up thyself and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

Psalms 35:14-24 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.