Psalms 35:2-12

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise for my help,

3 And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, `Thy salvation I [am].'

4 They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil.

5 They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away.

6 Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer.

7 For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul.

8 Meet him doth desolation -- he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it.

9 And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.

10 All my bones say, `Jehovah, who is like Thee, Delivering the poor from the stronger than he, And the poor and needy from his plunderer.'

11 Violent witnesses rise up, That which I have not known they ask me.

12 They pay me evil for good, bereaving my soul,

Psalms 35:2-12 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.