Psalms 35

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 35

1¶ [A Psalm] of David. Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation.

4Let 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.

5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].

6Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

7For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.

8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10All 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.

12They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.

13But 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.

14I behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother.

15But 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:

16With 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.

18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

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

20For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land.

21Yea, 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.

23Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26Let 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.

27Let 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.

28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 35 is a fervent plea from David to the LORD for divine intervention against his numerous and malicious enemies. He asks God to fight on his behalf, confound his adversaries, and bring their wicked schemes back upon themselves. Despite his own compassionate actions towards them, David's foes have persecuted him without cause, leading him to seek God's righteous judgment and salvation.

Medium Summary

In Psalm 35, David implores the LORD to contend with those who strive against him, calling upon God to take up arms and stand for his help. He describes his enemies as those who persecute him without cause, hide nets, and devise his hurt, praying that they be put to shame and confusion, becoming like chaff before the wind. David recounts how false witnesses rose against him, repaying evil for good, even though he had humbled himself with fasting and mourned for them in their sickness. He appeals to God to not remain silent but to judge him according to His righteousness, so that his adversaries may not rejoice over his downfall. The psalm concludes with David's promise to praise the LORD in the great congregation for His salvation and righteousness.

Long Summary

Psalm 35 opens with David's urgent appeal to the LORD to plead his cause and fight against his adversaries, imploring God to take hold of shield and buckler, and draw out the spear for his help. He prays that his persecutors, who have without cause hidden nets and dug pits for his soul, be confounded, put to shame, and scattered like chaff by the angel of the LORD. David expresses his desire for destruction to come upon them unawares, caught in their own snares, so that his soul may rejoice in the LORD's salvation. He marvels at God's unique power to deliver the poor and needy from the strong and the spoiler. The psalmist then details the treachery of his enemies, describing how false witnesses laid charges he knew not, repaying him evil for good. He contrasts their malice with his own compassionate conduct, revealing that he wore sackcloth, fasted, and mourned for them as if for a friend or brother when they were sick. Yet, in his adversity, these same individuals, including abjects and hypocritical mockers, rejoiced, gathered against him, and gnashed their teeth. David cries out to the LORD, asking how long He will look on, pleading for rescue from their destructions. He vows to give thanks and praise God in the great congregation once delivered. He further prays that his enemies, who hate him without cause, speak not peace, and devise deceitful matters against the quiet, may not wrongfully rejoice or wink with their eyes. David urges the LORD, who has seen all, to not keep silence but to awake to his judgment and cause. He asks God to judge him according to His righteousness, ensuring his enemies are not able to boast of his downfall. The psalm concludes with David's anticipation that those who favour his righteous cause will shout for joy and magnify the LORD, and his own tongue will speak of God's righteousness and praise continually.

Core Concepts

  • Divine InterventionDavid repeatedly calls upon the LORD to fight for him, take up arms, and rescue his soul from his adversaries. This concept highlights his reliance on God's direct action against his enemies.
  • Unjust PersecutionThe psalmist describes being persecuted without cause, facing false witnesses, and being repaid evil for good, despite his own compassionate actions towards his foes. This emphasizes the unwarranted nature of the suffering.
  • Retributive JusticeA significant theme is the imprecatory prayer for the enemies to be confounded, shamed, and caught in their own traps, with destruction falling upon them unawares. This reflects a desire for God's justice to turn the adversaries' malice back upon themselves.
  • David's RighteousnessThe psalmist contrasts his enemies' malice with his own compassionate behavior, such as mourning and fasting for them when they were sick, demonstrating his blamelessness in the face of their accusations. This underscores his moral integrity.
  • Enemies' Malice and DeceitThe adversaries are depicted as devising deceitful matters, hiding nets without cause, speaking not peace, and openly mocking the psalmist, revealing their inherent wickedness and treachery.
  • Public Praise and ThanksgivingDavid vows to give thanks and praise the LORD in the great congregation and and among much people once God delivers him, signifying his commitment to publicly acknowledge God's salvation and righteousness.