Psalms 35:7-17

7 For without cause have they hid their net in a pit for me. Without cause have they dug a pit for my soul.

8 Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Into that destruction let him fall.

9 My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, "Yahweh, who is like you, Who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?"

11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don't know about.

12 They reward me evil for good, To the bereaving of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn't know it. They tore at me, and didn't cease.

16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, They gnashed their teeth at me.

17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, My precious life from the lions.

Psalms 35:7-17 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.