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
Thou art of purer H2889 eyes H5869 than to behold H7200 evil, H7451 and canst H3201 not look H5027 on iniquity: H5999 wherefore lookest H5027 thou upon them that deal treacherously, H898 and holdest thy tongue H2790 when the wicked H7563 devoureth H1104 the man that is more righteous H6662 than he?
Thou hast seen H7200 it; for thou beholdest H5027 mischief H5999 and spite, H3708 to requite H5414 it with thy hand: H3027 the poor H2489 committeth H5800 himself unto thee; thou art the helper H5826 of the fatherless. H3490
[[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 How long wilt thou forget H7911 me, O LORD? H3068 for ever? H5331 how long wilt thou hide H5641 thy face H6440 from me? How long shall I take H7896 counsel H6098 in my soul, H5315 having sorrow H3015 in my heart H3824 daily? H3119 how long shall mine enemy H341 be exalted H7311 over me?
Deliver H5337 me out of the mire, H2916 and let me not sink: H2883 let me be delivered H5337 from them that hate H8130 me, and out of the deep H4615 waters. H4325 Let not the waterflood H4325 H7641 overflow H7857 me, neither let the deep H4688 swallow me up, H1104 and let not the pit H875 shut H332 her mouth H6310 upon me.
LORD, H3068 how long shall the wicked, H7563 how long shall the wicked H7563 triumph? H5937 How long shall they utter H5042 and speak H1696 hard things? H6277 and all the workers H6466 of iniquity H205 boast H559 themselves?
Attend H7181 unto my cry; H7440 for I am brought H1809 very H3966 low: H1809 deliver H5337 me from my persecutors; H7291 for they are stronger H553 than I. Bring H3318 my soul H5315 out of prison, H4525 that I may praise H3034 thy name: H8034 the righteous H6662 shall compass me about; H3803 for thou shalt deal bountifully H1580 with me.
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.