1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
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.
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, 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 hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
1 [[A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Plead H7378 my cause, O LORD, H3068 with them that strive H3401 with me: fight H3898 against them that fight H3898 against me.
2 Take hold H2388 of shield H4043 and buckler, H6793 and stand up H6965 for mine help. H5833
3 Draw out H7324 also the spear, H2595 and stop H5462 the way against H7125 them that persecute H7291 me: say H559 unto my soul, H5315 I am thy salvation. H3444
4 Let them be confounded H954 and put to shame H3637 that seek H1245 after my soul: H5315 let them be turned H5472 back H268 and brought to confusion H2659 that devise H2803 my hurt. H7451
5 Let them be as chaff H4671 before H6440 the wind: H7307 and let the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 chase H1760 them.
6 Let their way H1870 be dark H2822 and slippery: H2519 and let the angel H4397 of the LORD H3068 persecute H7291 them.
7 For without cause H2600 have they hid H2934 for me their net H7568 in a pit, H7845 which without cause H2600 they have digged H2658 for my soul. H5315
8 Let destruction H7722 come H935 upon him at unawares; H3045 H3808 and let his net H7568 that he hath hid H2934 catch H3920 himself: into that very destruction H7722 let him fall. H5307
9 And my soul H5315 shall be joyful H1523 in the LORD: H3068 it shall rejoice H7797 in his salvation. H3444
10 All my bones H6106 shall say, H559 LORD, H3068 who is like unto thee, which deliverest H5337 the poor H6041 from him that is too strong H2389 for him, yea, the poor H6041 and the needy H34 from him that spoileth H1497 him?
11 False H2555 witnesses H5707 did rise up; H6965 they laid to my charge H7592 things that I knew H3045 not.
12 They rewarded H7999 me evil H7451 for good H2896 to the spoiling H7908 of my soul. H5315
13 But as for me, when they were sick, H2470 my clothing H3830 was sackcloth: H8242 I humbled H6031 my soul H5315 with fasting; H6685 and my prayer H8605 returned H7725 into mine own bosom. H2436
14 I behaved H1980 myself as though he had been my friend H7453 or brother: H251 I bowed down H7817 heavily, H6937 as one that mourneth H57 for his mother. H517
15 But in mine adversity H6761 they rejoiced, H8055 and gathered themselves together: H622 yea, the abjects H5222 gathered themselves together H622 against me, and I knew H3045 it not; they did tear H7167 me, and ceased H1826 not:
16 With hypocritical H2611 mockers H3934 in feasts, H4580 they gnashed H2786 upon me with their teeth. H8127
17 Lord, H136 how long wilt thou look on? H7200 rescue H7725 my soul H5315 from their destructions, H7722 my darling H3173 from the lions. H3715
18 I will give thee thanks H3034 in the great H7227 congregation: H6951 I will praise H1984 thee among much H6099 people. H5971
19 Let not them that are mine enemies H341 wrongfully H8267 rejoice H8055 over me: neither let them wink H7169 with the eye H5869 that hate H8130 me without a cause. H2600
20 For they speak H1696 not peace: H7965 but they devise H2803 deceitful H4820 matters H1697 against them that are quiet H7282 in the land. H776
21 Yea, they opened their mouth H6310 wide H7337 against me, and said, H559 Aha, H1889 aha, H1889 our eye H5869 hath seen H7200 it.
22 This thou hast seen, H7200 O LORD: H3068 keep not silence: H2790 O Lord, H136 be not far H7368 from me.
23 Stir up H5782 thyself, and awake H6974 to my judgment, H4941 even unto my cause, H7379 my God H430 and my Lord. H136
24 Judge H8199 me, O LORD H3068 my God, H430 according to thy righteousness; H6664 and let them not rejoice H8055 over me.
25 Let them not say H559 in their hearts, H3820 Ah, H1889 so would we have it: H5315 let them not say, H559 We have swallowed him up. H1104
26 Let them be ashamed H954 and brought to confusion H2659 together H3162 that rejoice H8056 at mine hurt: H7451 let them be clothed H3847 with shame H1322 and dishonour H3639 that magnify H1431 themselves against me.
27 Let them shout for joy, H7442 and be glad, H8055 that favour H2655 my righteous cause: H6664 yea, let them say H559 continually, H8548 Let the LORD H3068 be magnified, H1431 which hath pleasure H2655 in the prosperity H7965 of his servant. H5650
28 And my tongue H3956 shall speak H1897 of thy righteousness H6664 and of thy praise H8416 all the day H3117 long.
1 Strive thou, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me: Fight thou against them that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help.
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that pursue me: Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be put to shame and brought to dishonor that seek after my soul: Let them be turned back and confounded that devise my hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, And the angel of Jehovah driving `them' on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, And the angel of Jehovah pursuing them.
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net `in' a pit; Without cause have they digged `a pit' for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him unawares; And let his net that he hath hid catch himself: With destruction let him fall therein.
9 And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah: It shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, Who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, Yea, the poor and the needy from him that robbeth him?
11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not.
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; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother.
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: The abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew `it' not; They did tear me, and ceased not:
16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, They gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.
18 I will give thee thanks in the great assembly: I will praise thee among much people.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
20 For they speak not peace; But they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.
21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me; They said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
22 Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah; keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice `due' unto me, `Even' unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O 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 put to shame and confounded together that rejoice at my hurt: Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: Yea, let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness `And' of thy praise all the day long. Psalm 36 For the Chief Musician. `A Psalm' of David the servant of Jehovah.
1 By David. Strive, Jehovah, with my strivers, fight with my fighters,
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,
13 And I -- in their sickness my clothing `is' sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.
14 As `if' a friend, as `if' my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.
15 And -- in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;
16 With profane ones, mockers in feasts, Gnashing against me their teeth.
17 Lord, how long dost thou behold? Keep back my soul from their desolations, From young lions my only one.
18 I thank Thee in a great assembly, Among a mighty people I praise Thee.
19 Mine enemies rejoice not over me `with' falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.
20 For they speak not peace, And against the quiet of the land, Deceitful words they devise,
21 And they enlarge against me their mouth, They said, `Aha, aha, our eye hath seen.'
22 Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, Be not silent, O Lord -- be not far from me,
23 Stir up, and wake to my judgment, My God, and my Lord, to my plea.
24 Judge me according to Thy righteousness, O Jehovah my God, And they do not rejoice over me.
25 They do not say in their heart, `Aha, our desire.' They do not say, `We swallowed him up.'
26 They are ashamed and confounded together, Who are rejoicing at my evil. They put on shame and confusion, Who are magnifying themselves against me.
27 They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, `Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.'
28 And my tongue uttereth Thy righteousness, All the day Thy praise!
1 {[A Psalm] of David.} Strive, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me:
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help;
3 And draw out the spear, and stop [the way] against my pursuers: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be put to shame and confounded that seek after my life; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that devise my hurt:
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of Jehovah drive [them] away;
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of Jehovah pursue them.
7 For without cause have they hidden for me their net [in] a pit; without cause they have digged [it] for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him unawares, and let his net which he hath hidden catch himself: for destruction let him fall therein.
9 And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the afflicted from one stronger than he, yea, the afflicted and the needy from him that spoileth him!
11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they lay to my charge things which I know not.
12 They reward me evil for good, [to] the bereavement of my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I chastened my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom:
14 I behaved myself as though [he had been] a friend, a brother to me; I bowed down in sadness, as one that mourneth [for] a mother.
15 But at my halting they rejoiced, and gathered together: the slanderers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:
16 With profane jesters for bread, they have gnashed their teeth against me.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.
18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people.
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.
1 > Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help.
3 Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation."
4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh's angel driving them on.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh's angel pursuing them.
7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.
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.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.
19 Don't let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; Neither let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
20 For they don't speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, "Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!"
22 You have seen it, Yahweh. Don't keep silent. Lord, don't be far from me.
23 Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
24 Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness; Don't let them gloat over me.
25 Don't let them say in their heart, "Aha! That's the way we want it!" Don't let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"
26 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, "Yahweh be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!"
28 My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
1 <Of David.> O Lord, be on my side against those who are judging me; be at war with those who make war against me.
2 Be a breastplate to me, and give me your help.
3 Take up your spear and keep back my attackers; say to my soul, I am your salvation.
4 Let them be overcome and put to shame who make attempts to take my soul; let those who would do me damage be turned back and made foolish.
5 Let them be like dust from the grain before the wind; let the angel of the Lord send them in flight.
6 Let their way be dark and full of danger; let them be troubled by the angel of the Lord.
7 For without cause they have put a net ready for me secretly, in which to take my soul.
8 Let destruction come on them without their knowledge; let them be taken themselves in their secret nets, falling into the same destruction.
9 And my soul will have joy in the Lord; it will be glad in his salvation.
10 All my bones will say, Lord, who is like you? The saviour of the poor man from the hands of the strong, of him who is poor and in need from him who takes his goods.
11 False witnesses got up: they put questions to me about crimes of which I had no knowledge.
12 They gave me back evil for good, troubling my soul.
13 But as for me, when they were ill I put on the clothing of sorrow: I went without food and was sad, and my prayer came back again to my heart.
14 My behaviour was as if it had been my friend or my brother: I was bent low in grief like one whose mother is dead.
15 But they took pleasure in my trouble, and came together, yes, low persons came together against me without my knowledge; they never came to an end of wounding me.
16 Like men of deceit they put me to shame; the voice of their wrath was loud against me.
17 Lord, how long will you be looking on? take my soul from their destruction, my life from the lions.
18 I will give you praise in the great meeting; I will give you honour among a strong people.
19 Do not let my haters be glad over me falsely; let not those who are against me without cause make sport of me.
20 For they do not say words of peace; in their deceit they are designing evil things against the quiet ones in the land.
21 Their mouths were open wide against me, and they said, Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.
22 You have seen this, O Lord; be not unmoved: O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Be awake, O Lord, be moved to take up my cause, my God and my Lord.
24 Be my judge, O Lord my God, in your righteousness; do not let them be glad over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, So we will have it: let them not say, We have put an end to him.
26 Let all those who take pleasure in my troubles be shamed and come to nothing: let those who are lifted up against me be covered with shame and have no honour.
27 Let those who are on my side give cries of joy; let them ever say, The Lord be praised, for he has pleasure in the peace of his servant.
28 And my tongue will be talking of your righteousness and of your praise all the day.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 35
Commentary on Psalms 35 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 35
Ps 35:1-28. The Psalmist invokes God's aid, contrasting the hypocrisy, cunning, and malice of his enemies with his integrity and generosity. The imprecations of the first part including a brief notice of their conduct, the fuller exposition of their hypocrisy and malice in the second, and the earnest prayer for deliverance from their scornful triumph in the last, are each closed (Ps 35:9, 10, 18, 27, 28) with promises of praise for the desired relief, in which his friends will unite. The historical occasion is probably 1Sa 24:1-22.
1-3. God is invoked in the character of a warrior (Ex 15:3; De 32:41).
3. fight against—literally, "devour my devourers."
stop the way against—literally, "shut up" (the way), to meet or oppose, &c.
I … thy salvation—who saves thee.
4. (Compare Ps 9:17).
devise my hurt—purpose for evil to me.
5, 6. (Compare Ps 1:4)—a terrible fate; driven by wind on a slippery path in darkness, and hotly pursued by supernatural violence (2Sa 24:16; Ac 12:23).
7, 8. net in a pit—or, "pit of their net"—or, "net-pit," as "holy hill" for "hill of holiness" (Ps 2:6); a figure from hunting (Ps 7:15). Their imprecations on impenitent rebels against God need no vindication; His justice and wrath are for such; His mercy for penitents. Compare Ps 7:16; 11:5, on the peculiar fate of the wicked here noticed.
10. All my bones—every part.
him that spoileth him—(Compare Ps 10:2).
11. False witnesses—literally, "Witnesses of injustice and cruelty" (compare Ps 11:5; 25:19).
12-14. Though they rendered evil for good, he showed a tender sympathy in their affliction.
spoiling—literally, "bereavement." The usual modes of showing grief are made, as figures, to express his sorrow.
13. prayer … bosom—may denote either the posture—the head bowed—(compare 1Ki 18:42)—or, that the prayer was in secret. Some think there is a reference to the result—the prayer would benefit him if not them.
14. behaved—literally, "went on"—denoting his habit.
heavily—or, "squalidly," his sorrowing occasioning neglect of his person. Altogether, his grief was that of one for a dearly loved relative.
15, 16. On the contrary, they rejoiced in his affliction. Halting, or, "lameness," as in Ps 38:17 for any distress.
abjects—either as cripples (compare 2Sa 4:4), contemptible; or, degraded persons, such as had been beaten (compare Job 30:1-8).
I knew it not—either the persons, or, reasons of such conduct.
tear me, and ceased not—literally, "were not silent"—showing that the tearing meant slandering.
16. mockers—who were hired to make sport at feasts (Pr 28:21).
17. darling—(Compare Ps 22:20, 21).
18. (Compare Ps 22:22).
19. enemies wrongfully—by false and slanderous imputations.
wink with the eye—an insulting gesture (Pr 6:13).
without a cause—manifests more malice than having a wrong cause.
20. deceitful matters—or, "words of deceit."
quiet in the land—the pious lovers of peace.
21. On the gesture compare Ps 22:7; and on the expressions of malicious triumph, compare Ps 10:13; 28:3.
23, 24. (Compare Ps 7:6; 26:1; 2Th 1:6). God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the wicked.
25. swallowed him up—utterly destroyed him (Ps 21:9; La 2:16).
26. clothed—covered wholly (Job 8:22).
27. favour … cause—delight in it, as vindicated by Thee.
Let the Lord, &c.—Let Him be greatly praised for His care of the just.
28. In this praise of God's equitable government (Ps 5:8) the writer promises ever to engage.