35 1 So long as Saul was enemy to David, all that had any authority under him, to flatter their king (as is the course of the world) did also most cruelly persecute David: against whom he prayeth God to plead and to avenge his cause, 8 that they may be taken in their nets and snares, which they laid for him, that his innocency may be declared, 27 and that the innocent, which taketh part with him, may rejoice and praise the Name of the Lord, that thus delivereth his servant. 28 And so he promiseth to speak forth the justice of the Lord, and to magnify his Name all the days of his life.

A Psalm of David.

Plead thou my [a]cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me.

[b]Lay hand upon the shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

Bring out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me, say unto my [c]soul, I am thy salvation.

Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul: let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.

Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord [d]scatter them.

Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.

For [e]without cause they have hid the pit and their net for me: without cause have they dug a pit for my soul.

Let destruction come upon [f]him at unawares, and let his net, that he hath laid privily, take him: let him fall into [g]the same destruction.

Then my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my [h]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 him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him!

11 [i]Cruel witnesses did rise up: they asked of me things that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good, to [j]have spoiled my soul.

13 Yet I, when they were sick, I was clothed with a sack: I humbled my soul with fasting: and [k]my prayer was turned upon my bosom.

14 I behaved myself as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled myself, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother.

15 But in mine [l]adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew not: they tare [m]me, and ceased not,

16 With the false scoffers at [n]banquets, gnashing their teeth against me.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou behold this? deliver my soul from their tumult, even my desolate soul from the lions.

18 So will I give thee thanks in a great Congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19 Let not them that are mine enemies unjustly rejoice over me, neither let them [o]wink with the eye, that hate me without a cause.

20 For they speak not as friends: but they imagine deceitful words against the [p]quiet of the land.

21 And they gaped on me with their mouths, saying, Aha, aha, [q]our eye hath seen.

22 Thou hast seen it, O Lord: keep not silence: be not far from me, O Lord.

23 Arise and wake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God, and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy [r]righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.

25 Let them not say in their hearts, [s]O our soul rejoice: neither let them say, We have devoured him.

26 Let them be confounded, and put to shame [t]together, that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed [u]with confusion and shame, that lift up themselves against me.

27 But let them be joyful and glad, [v]that love my righteousness: yea, let them say always, Let the Lord be magnified, which loveth the [w]prosperity of his servant.

28 And my tongue shall utter thy righteousness, and thy praise every day.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:1 He desireth God to undertake his cause against them that did persecute him and slander him.
  2. Psalm 35:2 Albeit God can with his breath destroy all his enemies, yet the holy Ghost attributeth unto him these outward weapons to assure us of his present power.
  3. Psalm 35:3 Assure me against these tentations, that thou art the author of my salvation.
  4. Psalm 35:5 Smite them with the spirit of giddiness that their enterprises may be foolish, and they received just reward.
  5. Psalm 35:7 Showing that we may not call God to be a revenger, but only for his glory, and when our cause is just.
  6. Psalm 35:8 When he promiseth to himself peace.
  7. Psalm 35:8 Which he prepared against the children of God.
  8. Psalm 35:10 He attributeth his deliverance only to God, praising him therefore both in soul and body.
  9. Psalm 35:11 That would not suffer me to purge myself.
  10. Psalm 35:12 To have taken from me all comfort and brought me into despair.
  11. Psalm 35:13 I prayed for them with inward affection, as I would have done for myself: or, I declared mine affection with bowing down mine head.
  12. Psalm 35:15 When they saw me ready to slip, and as one that halted for infirmity.
  13. Psalm 35:15 With their railing words.
  14. Psalm 35:16 The word signifieth cakes: meaning that the proud courtiers at their dainty feasts scoff, rail, and conspire his death.
  15. Psalm 35:19 In token of contempt and mocking.
  16. Psalm 35:20 Or, clefts of the earth: meaning, himself and others in their misery.
  17. Psalm 35:21 They rejoiced as though they had now seen David overthrown.
  18. Psalm 35:24 It is the justice of God to give to the oppressors affliction and torment, and to the oppressed aid and relief, 2 Thess. 1:6.
  19. Psalm 35:25 Because we have that which we sought for, seeing he is destroyed.
  20. Psalm 35:26 That is, at once, were they never so many or mighty.
  21. Psalm 35:26 This prayer shall always be verified against them that persecute the faithful.
  22. Psalm 35:27 That at least favor my right, though they be not able to help me.
  23. Psalm 35:27 He exhorteth the Church to praise God for the deliverance of his servants, and for the destruction of his adversaries.

Psalm 35

Of David.

Contend,(A) Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight(B) against those who fight against me.
Take up shield(C) and armor;
    arise(D) and come to my aid.(E)
Brandish spear(F) and javelin[a](G)
    against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
    “I am your salvation.(H)

May those who seek my life(I)
    be disgraced(J) and put to shame;(K)
may those who plot my ruin
    be turned back(L) in dismay.
May they be like chaff(M) before the wind,
    with the angel of the Lord(N) driving them away;
may their path be dark and slippery,
    with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

Since they hid their net(O) for me without cause(P)
    and without cause dug a pit(Q) for me,
may ruin overtake them by surprise—(R)
    may the net they hid entangle them,
    may they fall into the pit,(S) to their ruin.
Then my soul will rejoice(T) in the Lord
    and delight in his salvation.(U)
10 My whole being will exclaim,
    “Who is like you,(V) Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong(W) for them,
    the poor and needy(X) from those who rob them.”

11 Ruthless witnesses(Y) come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(Z)
    and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(AA)
    and humbled myself with fasting.(AB)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14     I went about mourning(AC)
    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;(AD)
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered(AE) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[b](AF)
    they gnashed their teeth(AG) at me.

17 How long,(AH) Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life(AI) from these lions.(AJ)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(AK)
    among the throngs(AL) I will praise you.(AM)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies(AN) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(AO)
    maliciously wink the eye.(AP)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations(AQ)
    against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They sneer(AR) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!(AS)
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

22 Lord, you have seen(AT) this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far(AU) from me, Lord.
23 Awake,(AV) and rise(AW) to my defense!
    Contend(AX) for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat(AY) over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha,(AZ) just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”(BA)

26 May all who gloat(BB) over my distress(BC)
    be put to shame(BD) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me(BE)
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication(BF)
    shout for joy(BG) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights(BH) in the well-being of his servant.”(BI)

28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,(BJ)
    your praises all day long.(BK)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way
  2. Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,

35 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

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.

Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.

Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

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.