Psalms 35:19-28

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.

23 Stir up thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and Lord!

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

25 Let them not say in their heart, Aha! so would we have it. Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine adversity; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27 Let them exult and rejoice that delight in my righteousness; and let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant.

28 And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, [and] of thy praise, all the day.

Psalms 35:19-28 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 'with false pretext.'
• [b]. Or 'on the earth.'
• [c]. Lit. 'our desire!'