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.
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.