Verse

Psalm chapter 35

English Standard Version

1Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 2Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! 3Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, "I am your salvation!" 4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! 5Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away! 6Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them! 7For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. 8Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it — to his destruction! 9Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation. 10All my bones shall say, "O Lord, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?" 11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. 12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft. 13But I, when they were sick — I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. 14I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning. 15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; 16like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth. 17How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! 18I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you. 19 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. 20For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. 21They open wide their mouths against me; they say, "Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!" 22 You have seen, O Lord; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! 23Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! 24 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! 25Let them not say in their hearts, "Aha, our heart 's desire!" Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up." 26Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me! 27Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, "Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!" 28Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

What does Psalm chapter 35 mean?

This is considered one of the "imprecatory psalms:" songs which request the Lord's immediate destruction of an enemy. Others include psalms 5, 10, 58, 69, 83, 109, and 140. In David's context, he was the anointed leader of a nation meant to produce the Messiah. Believers, today, are not in that same circumstance. With Christ's death accomplished, we're commanded to pray for our enemies' salvation, instead (John 18:36; Matthew 5:44–48). God will accomplish vengeance in His own time and in His own way (Romans 12:17–21).

Psalm 35 can be separated into three sections, all echoing the same basic themes. In each segment, David notes the sin and evil of his enemies, asks God to conquer them, and promises that he will ardently worship the Lord in thanks.

David begins by asking God to take up arms against his enemies, using military terminology. Some of the items mentioned would never have been used at the same time, such as a "standing shield" and a "buckler." The point is not that God will literally use weapons, but that David is asking for His help in battle. David also calls on God to thwart his enemies' efforts. This includes making their attacks rebound to their own destruction (Psalm 35:1–10).

The psalm, itself, is not explicitly tied to any event in David's life. However, he experienced persecution from both Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2) and Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13–14). Both saw David as a rival for the people's loyalty, so one would expect that slander, lies, and other propaganda would have been part of their efforts. In this segment of the psalm, David focuses much attention on the idea of lying witnesses and false accusations. What's especially grievous is that David treated those same persons as his friends, caring for them and praying for their welfare. Now, they invent lies as part of their attacks on him (Psalm 35:11–18).

In the final stanza, David directly pleads with God to be active in defeating his enemies. He pictures his foes plotting, using secret signals, and anticipating David's utter defeat. This is a pattern of such people attacking those who are peaceful and sincere in their faith. In response, David asks for those who support him to praise God. This is in anticipation of the Lord's righteous response to these wicked assailants (Psalm 35:19–28).
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Book Summary
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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Chapter Context
David pleads with the Lord to destroy his enemies and vindicate him. As such, Psalm 35 is labeled an "imprecatory psalm." Other examples include psalms 5, 69, 109, and 140. This song might have been written when King Saul was seeking David's life (1 Samuel 19:1–2), or when Absalom was spreading rebellion in Israel (2 Samuel 15:13–14). David' notes three basic ideas in this psalm: vindication, defeat of enemies, and praise of God. Each is repeated in a series of three variations.
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