Psalms 35:8

8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

Psalms 35:8 in Other Translations

KJV
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
ESV
8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it--to his destruction!
NLT
8 So let sudden ruin come upon them! Let them be caught in the trap they set for me! Let them be destroyed in the pit they dug for me.
MSG
8 Surprise them with your ambush - catch them in the very trap they set, the disaster they planned for me.
CSB
8 Let ruin come on him unexpectedly, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it-to his ruin.

Psalms 35:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 35:8

Let destruction come upon him at unawares
Or a "storm" {r}, such as is caused in the eastern countries by a south wind, very sudden, violent, and destructive F19: the singular number being here used, some Jewish commentators, as Kimchi, have thought Saul is particularly meant; and some Christian interpreters have been of opinion that Judas is intended: the imprecations here may be compared with those which respect him, ( Psalms 109:6-8 ) . Though this may regard every one of the enemies of David, or of Christ and his people, whose ruin and destruction will come upon them unawares; see ( 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ) ( Revelation 18:7 Revelation 18:8 ) ;

and let his net that he hath laid catch himself;
a figurative expression, agreeable to the allusion before made, and which is explained in the next clause;

into that very destruction let him fall,
which he had designed and contrived for others; so Haman was hanged on the same gallows he had prepared for Mordecai; and so it often is in the course of Providence, that the wicked fall into the same calamity they have intended and endeavoured to bring others into; see ( Psalms 7:15 Psalms 7:16 ) ( Psalms 9:15 Psalms 9:16 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (hawv) "tumultuosa calamitas", Cocceius; so Ainsworth; "tumultus", Vatablus.
F19 See Thevenot, Tavernier

Psalms 35:8 In-Context

6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORDand delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

Cross References 2

  • 1. Isaiah 47:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:3
  • 2. S Psalms 7:15; Psalms 9:15
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