American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Psalm 35
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 my help.
3
Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul, I am your 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 dig for my soul.
8
Let destruction come on him at unawares; and let his net that he has 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 to you, which deliver the poor from him that is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him that spoils 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 my own bosom.
14
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.
15
But in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yes, the attackers 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 on me with their teeth.
17
Lord, how long will you look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
18
I will give you thanks in the great congregation: I will praise you among much people.
19
Let not them that are my 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
Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye has seen it.
22
This you have seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23
Stir up yourself, and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord.
24
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to your 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 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: yes, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28
And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.
Summary of Psalm 35
Psalm 35 is a deeply emotional prayer for protection, justice, vindication, and deliverance from enemies who have treated David unfairly, combining the language of military conflict with the pain of betrayal, false accusations, social humiliation, and broken relationships. Traditionally associated with David and the 10th century BC, the chapter presents a person who believes that he has been attacked without legitimate reason and therefore turns to God as the only reliable judge capable of exposing false accusations and correcting the injustice surrounding him.
The opening section uses strong military imagery, asking God to act as a warrior and defender against those who are pursuing David. The language reflects the seriousness of the situation because David does not describe his enemies as merely disagreeing with him; he portrays them as people who actively seek his destruction and create hidden traps to bring about his downfall.
David repeatedly emphasizes that these attacks are unjustified. He describes secret schemes, false testimony, deceptive accusations, and hostile behavior, demonstrating that his suffering involves both physical danger and damage to his reputation. In an ancient society where honor and public standing were extremely important, false accusations could be deeply destructive even when physical violence was not immediately involved.
One of the most painful sections concerns betrayal. David remembers that when these people were suffering, he responded with compassion, mourning, humility, fasting, and prayer, treating them as though they were close friends or family. Yet when David later experienced difficulty, they turned against him and gathered to mock and attack him. This contrast between the kindness David believes he showed and the hostility he received creates the emotional center of the psalm.
The chapter also shows David struggling with the apparent delay of divine intervention. He asks how long the situation will continue and calls upon God to awaken, see what is happening, and defend his case. These appeals reveal that faith does not eliminate frustration when justice appears delayed.
At the same time, David repeatedly places the final judgment in God's hands. He asks God to judge according to righteousness rather than attempting to establish himself as the ultimate authority over his enemies. His desire for vindication is connected with the belief that God knows the truth and can distinguish between genuine wrongdoing and false accusations.
The final section changes toward hope and communal celebration. David imagines those who support what is right rejoicing when God provides justice, while he himself promises to continually praise God's righteousness.
The historical background of the 10th century BC fits the traditional Davidic setting, particularly the references to enemies, political opposition, betrayal, and public reputation, while the broader themes of justice, false accusation, worship, and divine protection remained important throughout the 10th–5th centuries BC.
The opening section uses strong military imagery, asking God to act as a warrior and defender against those who are pursuing David. The language reflects the seriousness of the situation because David does not describe his enemies as merely disagreeing with him; he portrays them as people who actively seek his destruction and create hidden traps to bring about his downfall.
David repeatedly emphasizes that these attacks are unjustified. He describes secret schemes, false testimony, deceptive accusations, and hostile behavior, demonstrating that his suffering involves both physical danger and damage to his reputation. In an ancient society where honor and public standing were extremely important, false accusations could be deeply destructive even when physical violence was not immediately involved.
One of the most painful sections concerns betrayal. David remembers that when these people were suffering, he responded with compassion, mourning, humility, fasting, and prayer, treating them as though they were close friends or family. Yet when David later experienced difficulty, they turned against him and gathered to mock and attack him. This contrast between the kindness David believes he showed and the hostility he received creates the emotional center of the psalm.
The chapter also shows David struggling with the apparent delay of divine intervention. He asks how long the situation will continue and calls upon God to awaken, see what is happening, and defend his case. These appeals reveal that faith does not eliminate frustration when justice appears delayed.
At the same time, David repeatedly places the final judgment in God's hands. He asks God to judge according to righteousness rather than attempting to establish himself as the ultimate authority over his enemies. His desire for vindication is connected with the belief that God knows the truth and can distinguish between genuine wrongdoing and false accusations.
The final section changes toward hope and communal celebration. David imagines those who support what is right rejoicing when God provides justice, while he himself promises to continually praise God's righteousness.
The historical background of the 10th century BC fits the traditional Davidic setting, particularly the references to enemies, political opposition, betrayal, and public reputation, while the broader themes of justice, false accusation, worship, and divine protection remained important throughout the 10th–5th centuries BC.