Psalm 35:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit.

NIV: They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.

NASB: For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

CSB: For they do not speak in friendly ways, but contrive fraudulent schemes against those who live peacefully in the land.

NLT: They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.

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

NKJV: For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful matters Against the quiet ones in the land.

Earlier verses noted the idea of enemies using lies and invented accusations (Psalm 35:11). That was in the context of attacks on David, himself (Psalm 35:12–16). Here, David describes the same foes as raising false charges against peaceful people. Though many enemies persecuted David, others in Israel supported him. Here, these are portrayed as quiet people, who honored the Lord and led righteous lives.

In times where many ignored God's will and followed evil leaders (2 Samuel 15:13–14), those who lived in peace and followed God (Lamentations 3:26; Romans 12:18) were a righteous remnant of what Israel was meant to be. Throughout Israel's long history the Lord always preserved at least a handful of those who truly honored Him. Elijah thought he was the only one left, telling God, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away" (1 Kings 19:10). However, the Lord responded: "Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel [a remnant], all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him" (1 Kings 19:18).

Psalm 35:19–28 is the last of three phases of this psalm, each expressing variations of the same basic themes. David pleads with the Lord for vindication. He prays for deliverance from his enemies, asking God to put them to shame. The psalm concludes with a call for those who support David to rejoice, and to worship God. David promises to constantly praise and honor the Lord.

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.

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.

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.