Psalms 35:13-27

13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[a]they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.
19 Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

Psalms 35:13-27 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.

Cross References 35

  • 1. S 2 Samuel 3:31; 1 Kings 20:31; Psalms 30:11; Psalms 69:11
  • 2. Job 30:25; Psalms 69:10; Psalms 109:24
  • 3. Psalms 38:6; Psalms 42:9; Psalms 43:2
  • 4. S Job 31:29
  • 5. S Job 16:10; Job 30:1,8
  • 6. S Psalms 22:7; Mark 10:34
  • 7. S Job 16:9; Mark 9:18; Acts 7:54; Lamentations 2:16
  • 8. Psalms 6:3; Habakkuk 1:13
  • 9. Psalms 22:20
  • 10. Psalms 22:21; Psalms 57:4; Psalms 58:6
  • 11. S Psalms 22:25
  • 12. Psalms 42:4; Psalms 109:30
  • 13. S Psalms 22:22
  • 14. Psalms 9:13
  • 15. ver 7; Psalms 38:19; Psalms 69:4; John 15:25*
  • 16. Psalms 13:4; Proverbs 6:13; Proverbs 10:10
  • 17. Psalms 38:12; Psalms 55:21; Jeremiah 9:8; Micah 6:12
  • 18. S Job 16:10; Psalms 22:13
  • 19. Psalms 40:15; Psalms 70:3; Ezekiel 25:3
  • 20. Exodus 3:7; Psalms 10:14
  • 21. S Psalms 10:1; Psalms 28:1
  • 22. S Psalms 7:6; Psalms 80:2; Psalms 44:23
  • 23. Psalms 17:13
  • 24. S 1 Samuel 24:15
  • 25. Psalms 22:17
  • 26. ver 21
  • 27. Psalms 124:3; Proverbs 1:12; Lamentations 2:16
  • 28. Psalms 22:17
  • 29. Psalms 4:1
  • 30. S Job 8:22; Psalms 40:14; Psalms 109:29; Micah 7:10
  • 31. Job 19:5; Psalms 38:16
  • 32. Psalms 9:4
  • 33. Psalms 20:5; S Psalms 33:3; Psalms 32:11
  • 34. Psalms 40:16; Psalms 147:11; Psalms 149:4
  • 35. S Job 17:3

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Septuagint; Hebrew may mean "Like an ungodly circle of mockers,"
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