Psalm 35:13

ESV But I, when they were sick — I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

NIV Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

NASB But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, But my prayer kept returning to me.

CSB Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.

NLT Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.

KJV 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.

NKJV But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.

What does Psalm 35:13 mean?

In sadness (Psalm 35:11–12), David reflects on the compassionate treatment he showed his foes before they turned against him. He does not identify them, but it's likely these were people aligned with either Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2) or Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13–14). They may have been members of the court or soldiers in the army. David had served in both, prior to becoming king. Whoever they were, David had shown personal concern for them. He followed the typical process of mourning; he fasted and prayed for them. He was a devoted friend to those individuals. Yet they turned on him and even sought his death.

Again, David's actions prefigure those of Jesus. Jesus "went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him" (Acts 10:38). Jesus opened His arms to the children, healed the deaf and the blind, cleansed lepers, and raised the dead, never doing harm to anyone. Yet His lifestyle of consistent kindness was met with clamors for His death (Mark 15:13). At Pentecost, Peter told the crowd of Jews that Jesus was crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men (Acts 2:23).

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Context Summary
Psalm 35:11–18 is the second of three variations on the same themes, which make up Psalm 35. David describes the attacks he endured. His enemy lied and used unscrupulous witnesses to level false accusations. This betrayal is made worse because David had been kind and loving towards them when they were in need. When they were sick, he prayed for them, and mourned when they did not recover. Yet now they ridiculed him. David calls out for God's intervention.

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Chapter Summary
This is one of the "imprecatory psalms," which call on God to immediately judge or destroy His enemies. David echoes the same ideas in three phases. Each segment includes a plea for rescue, a request for God to conquer David's foes, and a promise to praise the Lord. David makes a point of noting that his enemies have no good reason for their hatred, since he was kind to them. With faith, David looks ahead, trusting he will have the opportunity to worship the Lord for His rescue and vindication.

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